The history of friendship and thousands of years long relations between the Uzbek and Chinese nations goes back to the Great Silk Road era. Current bilateral relations are developing in accordance with the most topical requirements of the present day.

Over the 15 years, since the establishment of diplomatic relations between [the two countries], Uzbekistan and China have established firm and fruitful partnership. At the same time, it is very important that the views of the two countries’ leaders on issues of expanding bilateral cooperation, international and regional problems coincide, and friendly relations have been established between [Uzbek President] Islam Karimov and [Chinese President] Hu Jintao. Both countries have an uncompromising position on the fight against such threats to security like terrorism, separatism, extremism and drug business.

China is one of the strategic partners of Uzbekistan in the Asian continent. At present, relations between the two countries are developing intensively in all spheres, in particular, in politics, trade and economy, investment, science and technology, culture, energy, transport, information and IT, science and education, sports and the humanitarian sphere.

Our countries are successfully cooperating in these fields in the course of implementing mutually beneficial projects.

Today, economic cooperation is developing especially successfully, where there are the most favourable conditions for the both sides. In 2006 the trade between the two states stood at 698m dollars and in January-August 2007 it was 477m dollars.

Uzbekistan exports energy resources, oil, oil and chemical products, cotton fibre, silk, fertilizers, fruits and vegetables to China. It imports mechanical and electrical equipment, optical instruments and devices, medicines, textile goods, plastic and plastic products, products made of ferrous and nonferrous metal from China.

A total of 136 joint ventures, which have been set up with Chinese investment, and the representative offices of 26 Chinese companies function in Uzbekistan. They work in the spheres of light industry, processing agricultural products, and IT.

Several social projects are being implemented in our country with the Chinese government’s interest-free (US$12 million) and preferential (US$36.3 million) loans. Moreover, China’s EximBank has allocated a US$300 million export loan to Uzbekistan. At the same time, within the Chinese government’s US$900 million credit line for the SCO member states, 19 projects to develop Uzbekistan’s infrastructure are being considered. These projects are worth US$612.1 million.

At present, the Uzbek-Chinese relations are developing on the basis of mutual trust and respect. We have every reason to believe that our countries will further strengthen mutual friendship and cooperation.