Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) — Prime Minister of Uzbekistan Abdulla Aripov held talks with Li Qiang, the Premier of China’s State Council, in Shanghai.

Heading the Uzbek delegation, Aripov arrived in Shanghai on 4 November to attend the 7th China International Import Expo (CIIE), scheduled from 5 to 10 November 2024, where Uzbekistan is an honored guest.

During the meeting, the Uzbek side conveyed President Shavkat Mirziyoyev’s greetings to Chinese President Xi Jinping, with the Chinese delegation reciprocating Xi’s well wishes to the Uzbek leader.

The meeting emphasized China’s role as a reliable strategic partner for Uzbekistan, with bilateral ties continually strengthening. This progress is largely attributed to the trusted and friendly relationship between President Mirziyoyev and President Xi.

The discussion highlighted the growth of trade relations, noting that trade volume reached $14 billion in 2023. Both leaders tasked their governments with increasing this figure to $20 billion, expressing confidence that the target is achievable with joint efforts.

The meeting covered various sectors, including investments, finance, industry, infrastructure, transport, logistics, green energy, mining, agriculture, textiles, IT, education, tourism, interregional collaboration, and cultural cooperation.

Additionally, the Uzbek delegation met with Chen Jining, the Shanghai Communist Party Committee Secretary, and leaders of major Chinese companies, including Henan Investment Group, China Datang Group, and Shanxi Tianhai Group.