The key facts

  • On October 17, Mirziyoyev received PRC State Council Premier Li Qiang: peaceful nuclear power, green energy, AI, robotics and other areas were discussed.
  • The portfolio of joint projects has reached nearly $60 billion, and over 6,000 joint ventures have been created.
  • An increase in flights between cities of the two countries was discussed; earlier Mirziyoyev said he would discuss the second nuclear power plant with new partners — according to Vucic, with China.

Meeting in Tashkent

On October 17, President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev received a delegation led by Premier of the State Council of China Li Qiang, the press services of the head of state reported. The parties considered issues of strengthening comprehensive strategic partnership and the implementation of agreements reached at the meeting of the leaders of the two countries in Bishkek in August 2026. The activation of contacts at the level of parliaments, governments, agencies, regions and business circles was noted.

Position and economy

Uzbekistan confirmed the immutability of its position on the 'one China' policy and the fight against the 'three evil forces' — terrorism, separatism and extremism (a term enshrined in the Shanghai Convention of 2001 upon the creation of the SCO). According to the press service, trade turnover is steadily growing, the portfolio of projects under firm agreements has reached nearly $60 billion, more than 6,000 joint ventures have been created, the number of Chinese tourists is growing, and the exchange of experience in poverty reduction continues.

Areas of cooperation and transport

The parties emphasized the importance of expanding cooperation in green energy, chemical industry, geology, automotive industry, metallurgy, agriculture, infrastructure modernization, peaceful nuclear power, digital technologies, artificial intelligence, equipment manufacturing and robotics. It was noted that construction of the strategic China — Kyrgyzstan — Uzbekistan railway is proceeding at a fast pace, and its launch will give impetus to the development of trade and transport interconnectivity in the region.

Tourism, culture, education

Special attention was paid to expanding exchanges in tourism, culture and education. To expand cooperation, plans to increase the number of flights between cities of the two countries were discussed. In the coming days, Days of Culture of Uzbekistan will be held in China, and cultural centers will open in both countries. Current issues of interaction within the SCO and the 'Central Asia — China' format were also considered.

Context: the second nuclear power plant

On October 16, Mirziyoyev stated that issues of building the second and third nuclear power plants in Uzbekistan would be discussed with new partners: 'Construction of the first nuclear power plant has begun. There are also plans to build the second and third. Tomorrow we will discuss the construction of the second nuclear power plant with our new partners and investors.' Earlier, according to Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic, Mirziyoyev told him in conversation: 'We are building one nuclear power plant with the Russians, the second with the Chinese, but that is not enough for me. Without finishing this one, I will start building another one, I will continue working.'