The year 2022 that is about to pass is a year full of challenges. The new crown epidemic has repeatedly delayed, the recovery of the world economy is weak, geopolitical conflicts have intensified, and deficits in peace, development, security, and governance have increased. In the face of severe challenges, China and Uzbekistan have helped each other and helped each other, pushing bilateral relations against the trend and achieving strategic upgrades, setting a model for exchanges between countries.

In the face of a century of changes, we have maintained close communication and coordination to continuously consolidate political mutual trust. At the beginning of the year, President Mirziyoyev went to Beijing to attend the opening ceremony of the Winter Olympics at the invitation of President Xi Jinping. In September, President Xi Jinping paid a state visit to Uzbekistan and attended the Samarkand Summit of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization. The top leaders of the two countries have had face-to-face exchanges twice within a year, realizing the "Covenant of the Winter Olympics and the Meeting of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization", and agreed to implement a community of shared future at the bilateral level, and further deepen the comprehensive China-Uzbekistan relationship in the new era of close friendship, solidarity, and shared prosperity. strategic partnership. In addition, the two heads of state also jointly attended activities such as the video summit marking the 30th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and the five Central Asian countries, and the high-level dialogue on global development, and reached important consensus on strengthening China-Uzbekistan cooperation on the international stage. State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi and Vice Premier Hu Chunhua visited Uzbekistan successively. Umurzakov, Ukrainian Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Investment and Foreign Trade at the time, went to China to attend the third meeting of foreign ministers of Afghanistan's neighbors. Leaders of relevant Chinese departments actively attended Uzbekistan The activities hosted by China within the framework of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization continue to promote the implementation of the consensus reached by the two heads of state.

Facing the economic downturn, we forged ahead and continued to deepen mutually beneficial cooperation in various fields. The two countries successfully held the sixth meeting of the Intergovernmental Cooperation Committee, actively implemented the "China-Uzbekistan Intergovernmental Economic, Trade and Investment Cooperation Plan (2022-2026)" signed at the beginning of the year, and continued to expand the scale of investment and trade. According to Chinese statistics, the bilateral trade volume in the first 11 months of 2022 will reach US$9.05 billion, a year-on-year increase of 26.9%, and is expected to approach US$10 billion for the whole year. China has invested more than 10 billion U.S. dollars in Uzbekistan, and there are more than 2,100 Chinese companies in Uzbekistan. The first China-Uzbekistan Industrial Cooperation and Investment Forum was successfully held, building an effective platform for deepening industrial cooperation between the two countries. The high-quality joint construction of the Belt and Road Initiative is progressing steadily. Chinese experts have completed the field survey of the China-Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan Railway Project in Kyrgyzstan, and are expected to complete the preparation of the feasibility report in the first half of next year; -UZ-VAC-2001 clinical trial of the second-generation COVID-19 vaccine; Chinese companies successively won bids for Uzbekistan information and communication, stadium construction, clean energy power stations and other large-scale projects, and the cooperation between the two countries in new energy vehicles has a strong momentum of development.

In the face of the epidemic, we have taken multiple measures to enhance people-to-people bonds. Focusing on the celebration of the 30th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations, the two sides held a variety of cultural activities such as online receptions, concerts, seminars and photo exhibitions, and jointly issued commemorative stamps and post packs. We set up "China Corner" and "China Window" reading halls in Ukrainian "Silk Road" International Tourism and Cultural Heritage University and Navoi National Library respectively, and broadcast "The Most Beautiful Youth" and "Beautiful Life" on Ukrainian TV. "The Wandering Earth" and other excellent Chinese film and television works, held the "30th Anniversary of the Establishment of Diplomatic Relations Between China and Uzbekistan - Thirty Events" selection, broadcasting knowledge contests and other activities, and produced the theme song "The Sun Rises From the East Forever" composed by a famous Ukrainian composer. Highlight the theme of China-Uzbekistan relations. Universities of the two countries signed a memorandum of understanding on cooperation in the construction of Luban Workshop online, agreeing to jointly train Ukrainian modern logistics management and information technology talents. Thanks to the reopening of foreign long-term study visas in China, Ukrainian students are gradually returning to China to resume their studies.

2022 is also a year of extraordinary significance for the respective development and construction of China and Uzbekistan. The Communist Party of China successfully convened the 20th National Congress, formulated the major policies for China's development in the next five years or even longer, and officially sounded the "assembly call" to comprehensively promote the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation through Chinese-style modernization. 2022 is the first year of the implementation of the "New Uzbekistan" strategy. Under the leadership of President Mirziyoyev, Uzbekistan has resisted internal and external pressure and continued to promote reforms in various fields, achieving rapid economic growth, continuous improvement of people's livelihood, and continuous international influence. improve. In a few days, we will celebrate the 31st anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Ukraine. Under the new situation, China is willing to work with Uzbekistan to further enhance political mutual trust, accelerate the integration of the Belt and Road Initiative with the "New Uzbekistan Strategy", jointly implement global development initiatives and global security initiatives, expand mutually beneficial cooperation in various fields, and continuously consolidate the foundation of public opinion. Let us jointly write a more exciting chapter of China-Uzbekistan comprehensive strategic partnership in the new era. Editor/Xu Shengpeng