UZBEKISTAN - CHINA RELATIONS AT 30: TOWARD A SUSTAINABLE AND INCLUSIVE STRATEGIC ALLIANCE
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.17444110Keywords:
Uzbekistan-China relations; Belt and Road Initiative; strategic partnership; foreign direct investment; infrastructure development; digital transformation; green energy; higher education cooperation; asymmetrical interdependence; Central AsiaAbstract
This article investigates the strategic evolution of Uzbekistan-China relations from 1995 to 2025, emphasizing
the multidimensional nature of their bilateral cooperation. Drawing on a mixed-method approach that incorporates official
statistics, international development reports, and policy analysis, the study explores five core areas of collaboration:
economic integration, political alignment, cultural diplomacy, educational exchange, and security coordination. Special
attention is given to the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) as a structural driver behind enhanced connectivity, foreign direct
investment (FDI), and large-scale infrastructure development in Uzbekistan.
The research reveals both achievements and asymmetries in the partnership, notably in trade imbalances, dependency
risks, and institutional capacity gaps. It highlights China’s dominant role in shaping Uzbekistan’s external economic
orientation while underscoring Uzbekistan’s efforts to leverage this engagement for domestic modernization, regional
positioning, and strategic diversification.
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