China: Uzbekistan expands strategic partnership with investors in Tianjin

On July 31, a number of key negotiations were held in Tianjin between representatives of the Ministry of Investment, Industry and Trade of the Republic of Uzbekistan and the leadership of leading Chinese corporations. The meetings were aimed at strengthening bilateral cooperation in the infrastructure, energy, transport and tourism sectors, as well as developing new formats of interaction with Chinese private capital.

The Chinese side expressed interest in long-term projects, including the launch of geological exploration of gypsum deposits and localization of production of equipment for renewable energy. In particular, Sinoma Energy Conservation expressed its readiness to implement a project to produce wind turbines based on a production cluster in the Jizzakh region. They also discussed the creation of an energy technology park with innovative solutions in the field of energy efficiency. Additionally, negotiations were initiated on the preparation of a Memorandum of Strategic Partnership between the parties.

The transport and urban construction sectors have also attracted interest from Chinese investors. Tianjin Urban Construction Group Holdings has confirmed its readiness to participate in the construction of main roads, bridges and metro systems in Uzbekistan. They discussed the possibilities of developing light rail transport (LRT), forming drainage infrastructure in cities, as well as creating specialized engineering centers with the transfer of technologies and construction standards. Representatives of the corporation separately stressed their interest in creating joint infrastructure technology parks focused on localization of project solutions and training of specialists.

At the same time, Tianjin Rail Transit Group Corporation demonstrated a number of technological solutions in the field of metro automation. The Uzbek delegation got acquainted with the capabilities of the traffic control center, digital security systems and training of personnel working on the city subway. A high level of technological maturity of projects was noted, including in terms of intelligent passenger traffic regulation and infrastructure maintenance.

Additionally, investment plans in the tourism sector were discussed. ST Wonderful International has confirmed its intention to start construction of an international-class hotel complex in Tashkent under the Beijing brand. The project will include not only a hotel, but also a large-scale family recreation park focused on the development of the capital's entertainment and cultural infrastructure.

As a result of the negotiations, an agreement was reached to launch preparatory activities and work out project documentation. The Uzbek side expressed full readiness for long-term and systematic cooperation, including with the involvement of relevant ministries and departments. The focus remains on joint initiatives aimed at developing Uzbekistan's industrial potential, logistics connectivity and tourism attractiveness amid growing interest in projects with a high degree of localization.