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TASHKENT :President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev, at the invitation of President of the People’s Republic of China Xi Jinping, delivered a welcoming video message to the participants of the opening ceremony of the third China International Import Expo CIIE-2020 in the city of Shanghai, the Uzbek president’s official website reported.
In his speech, the Uzbek president noted that such a large-scale event as this Expo is indicative of China’s success in restoring the national economy and the exceptional demand for broader international cooperation amid the current pandemic.
In this respect, the Uzbek leader expounded on key issues pertinent to the enhancement of mutually advantageous trade and economic interaction and the development of ties among regions and countries in the context of the global crisis.
Mirziyoyev spoke of the steadfast measures taken in Uzbekistan to liberalize the national economy, simplify the foreign trade regime and export-import procedures, harmonize the regulatory framework with international standards, shape green corridors, join the World Trade Organization, and deliver an even more favorable investment climate.
Consolidation of cooperation in transport and expansion of Central Asia’s transport and transit potential remains an important priority, he said.
In light of Uzbekistan’s active support for China’s One Belt One Road initiative, which opens up extensive prospects for bolstering the regional and interregional connectedness, confidence was expressed that Central Asia, as in the days of the Great Silk Road, could again become a hub of transport and transit corridors between Europe and Asia.
Mirziyoyev stressed the great importance of the initiative to create new corridors connecting the railway systems of Central and South Asia, which would seal the land transport system of the Eurasian continent.
In this regard, the Uzbek leader informed the ceremony participants that Uzbekistan is for accelerating the realization of a project for the construction of railroad along the route of the new multimodal transport corridor China-Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan.
In addition, it was proposed to unite efforts in forming an integrated network of land ports, logistics and wholesale distribution centers within the framework of the One Belt One Road initiative.
Taking into account the demand for these initiatives, hope was expressed for the active support of partners and international organizations for Uzbekistan’s proposal to establish a Regional Center for Transport and Communication Interconnectedness under the auspices of the United Nations, voiced during the 75th session of the UN General Assembly.
President Mirziyoyev announced Uzbekistan’s readiness for vigorous advancement of industrial cooperation, organization of new joint ventures, primarily for the deep processing of mineral resources and the production of goods with high added value for export markets.
Leaders of Serbia, Chile, South Africa, Spain, Pakistan and other countries, heads of a number of international organizations also delivered statements to the ceremony.
Within the framework of the third China International Import Expo 2020, the Uzbek-Chinese business forum is due to be held on November 5 in Shanghai. About 150 representatives of major Chinese trade and investment companies are expected to attend the event