EurasiaNet is an independent news agency covering news in and about the South Caucasus and Central Asia, providing on-the-ground reporting and critical views…
China is vigorously developing soft power in Central Asia and has launched measures to strengthen cooperation with expert institutions in Uzbekistan and promote cultural exchange and tourism with Kyrgyzstan.
Kurbanov, director of the Information and Analytical Center for International Relations of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, led a delegation of Uzbek experts that recently visited China and held scientific talks with representatives of leading Chinese research institutions such as the Institute of International Relations of Peking University and the Academy of Social Sciences. As Review.uz reports, the visit resulted in a memorandum of understanding outlining “prospects for further strengthening cooperation in research activities” and “further strengthening relations between leading” Chinese and Uzbek think tanks. The cooperation will include joint research projects and the exchange of experts “taking into account the experience of China.” if (window.innerWidth
At the same time, officials from China and Kyrgyzstan held a series of high-level meetings aimed at expanding tourism and cultural exchanges between the two countries. According to Kyrgyz media reports, Chinese Minister of Culture Hu Heping met with Kyrgyzstan’s Ambassador to China Aktilek Musaeva on July 11 to discuss the feasibility of opening a cultural center and “further strengthening the development of cooperation between cultural centers in the field of art, cinema, etc.” in the field.” Press service of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. A few days later, the Ministry of Culture of Kyrgyzstan announced that Chinese tourism expert Peng Xiaolan would be a “voluntary” consultant to the ministry on the development of bilateral “cultural and humanitarian relations.” It is reported that one of Peng’s first tasks was to open Kyrgyz cultural center in China.
Kyrgyzstan and China are also strengthening educational exchanges. According to Xinhua, Kyrgyzstan’s Deputy Energy Minister Talebek Tolubaev and China’s Special Envoy to Kyrgyzstan Du Dewen attended the graduation ceremony of Kyrgyz graduates from China’s Xi’an Petroleum University in Bishkek on July 16. Separately, the TASS agency reported that Kyrgyz students were accepted into the program of the East China Normal University in Shanghai, operating with the support of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization.
The Jizzakh ADM plant in Uzbekistan has reached an agreement to begin assembling Haval cars, including the M6 subcompact car and the H6 SUV developed by the Chinese automaker Great Wall Motors. According to a report published by Quto, a Russian-language publication specializing in the Eurasian auto industry, the Haval assembly will replace the production of cars designed by Russian automaker AvtoVAZ, “whose production is now suspended” due to sanctions. Jizzakh’s partnership with Great Wall eventually hopes to start producing hybrid and electric vehicles. “Uzbekistan is expected to become one of the most important growth drivers for Great Wall,” the Quto report says.
The First Credit Bureau of Central Asia reported on its Telegram channel that in the first five months of 2023, Kazakhstan imported 16,333 Chinese-made cars. In monetary terms, imports for the reporting period amounted to $291.8 million. In 2022, the annual value of vehicle imports will be US$183.9 million.
Kazakhstan is exploring the possibility of expanding wheat exports to China. On July 13, Kazakhstan’s Ministry of Agriculture reported that Minister Erbol Karashukeev met with senior officials from COFCO, Kazakhstan’s largest wheat importer. During the meeting, the parties discussed increasing the annual supply of wheat to the Chinese market “up to 1 million tons.” The meeting comes amid an ongoing dispute between the two countries over wheat prices. On July 17, the Kursiv publication reported that Kazakh grain producers suspended wheat exports to China due to too low purchase prices. The report added that “23 grain trains” were scheduled to leave for China in July, but none had crossed the border by mid-month. “China is now offering $240 per ton. But our Kazakh exporters believe that this is a lower price, taking into account exchange rate fluctuations and other factors, and they want at least $245-250,” the Kursiv publication quotes Kazakhstan. As stated by the Chairman of the Board Zeinoll Abdumanapov of the Board of Directors of the State Association of Grain Exporters “Stan”, reported. if (window.innerWidth
Representatives of the Kyrgyz Railway said that relevant organizations in Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan and China signed a memorandum of understanding to strengthen efforts to extend the planned intermodal line to Afghanistan. Kyrgyzstan’s statement did not outline any specific measures to implement the plan.
According to the press service of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Uzbekistan on July 12, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Uzbekistan Bakhter Saidov accepted the credentials of the new Chinese Ambassador to the countries of Central Asia, Yu Jun. “Our cooperation has yielded many results. There will be more of them in the future. The Uzbekistan Daily news site quotes Saidov as saying that Uzbek-Chinese relations are developing at a fast pace and the existing potential is greater.
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Post time: Jan-22-2024