China has been maintaining friendly relations and cooperation for mutual benefit with Uzbekistan, one of China’s important partners in Central Asia. Former Uzbek Deputy Prime Minister Nosirjon Yusupov was appointed as Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Uzbekistan to China in May 2003. On the eve of Independence Day of the Republic of Uzbekistan, September 1, China.org.cn interviewed the new ambassador on Sino-Uzbekistan relations, bilateral cooperation as Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) members, as well as exchanges on many other subjects.

 

China.org.cn: Mr. Ambassador, at first please allow me to congratulate you on the occasion of the 12th anniversary of Independence of the Republic of Uzbekistan. Over these 12 years an equal, friendly relationship of mutual respect has been established between Uzbekistan and China. Can you give your opinion on the current situation and development prospects of bilateral relations?

 

Amb. Yusupov: Indeed, on the basis of mutual respect, equality and friendship, over the past years Chinese and Uzbekistan leaders, entrepreneurs and government organizations have kept in close touch with each other. What’s most politically important this year were the talks between the President of Uzbekistan Islam Karimov and his Chinese counterpart Hu Jintao in Moscow May 29, which marked the beginning of a new historical period in Sino-Uzbekistan relations. Both leaders exchanged frank opinions in their meeting on the current situation and development prospects of bilateral relations, the situation in Central Asia, as well as cooperation within the framework of the SCO.

 

President Karimov met Hu Jintao before, however, this time Hu attended the meeting in his capacity as China’s head of state. Mutual trust defined constructive talks between the two leaders, which has become a persistent tradition in contacts between Uzbekistan and China.

 

Successful cooperation between the two countries has not only remained through bilateral relations but also been extended by the SCO, the United Nations and many other international organizations. Specifically, the solid foundation for bilateral agreement on civil, criminal and judicial assistance, which has already been laid in the area of politics, economy and culture, has been a good example.

 

China.org.cn: Can you talk about the current situation and prospects for economic and trade cooperation between the two countries?

 

Amb. Yusupov: Naturally, economic and trade cooperation is of decisive influence on the development of bilateral ties. For instance, the first half of 2003 saw an unprecedented increase in bilateral trade turnover. According to statistics by China’s General Administration of Customs, from January to June, bilateral trade volume hit US$178.72 million, almost tripling that of the corresponding period last year.

 

I am glad to tell you that some large Chinese enterprises are booming in Uzbekistan, mainly dealing in telecommunications services, textile production, processing of raw material, as well as oil and gas.

 

Special thanks should go to Shanghai BELL Co. Limited for it contributes a lot to the development of the Uzbekistan telecom network by cooperating closely with Uzbekistan’s telecom companies and working hard to win Chinese government loans for the construction of electronic pipelines from Tashkent to Buhara. Another big Chinese enterprise named Huawei has also actively participated in the projects of transforming telephone exchanges and improving mobile phone communications in four provinces of Uzbekistan.

 

In addition, active cooperation is underway in the field of oil and gas. So far, several big Chinese companies like Tu-Ha Oil Prospecting and Development Headquarter Co. Ltd and China Petroleum Technology and Development Corporation, are involved in exploiting new bases inside Uzbekistan.

 

The most successful model of this kind of cooperation is the construction project of the Kangrad Sado Factory. After winning the bid in 2002, Citic International Cooperation Corp started an economic and technology evaluation of the project and prepared to invest. Through great effort, both sides signed a contract worth US$32 million in June 2002.

 

Apart from this, Citic International Cooperation Corp won another project, building 12 electric power machines for Uzbekistan. With a soft loan of 100 million yuan offered by China’s Import and Export Bank, the first phrase of the project has already finished while the second phase will start soon.

 

Given the smooth development of Sino-Uzbekistan cooperation, China is planning to provide some more favored loans to Uzbekistan.

 

As for the future, there is still room for further cooperation in terms of economy, technology and financial loans. Using China’s capital and technological advantages to help Uzbekistan solve key issues for its national economy, will on the one hand further stabilize economic relations, and help Uzbekistan boost its economy on the other hand.

 

Despite big progress in bilateral trade, there is still huge potential. We welcome Chinese entrepreneurs to invest in every sector of the Uzbekistan economy especially in manufacturing fields such as the automobile industry and light industries, as well as processing industry of farm products.

 

Our embassy will continue to promote cooperation between China and Uzbekistan. Any Chinese friends who would like to hold exhibitions in Uzbekistan will be welcomed, which can increase mutual understanding.

 

China.org.cn: Since both China and Uzbekistan are members of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO), they have close cooperation within the framework. Are there any concrete measures for safeguarding stability and security between the two nations?

 

Amb. Yusupov: It remains the top priority for the Shanghai Cooperation Organization to safeguard the stability and security of this region. Uzbekistan President Islam Karimov has emphasized that during the Moscow Summit of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization in May: “The fight against global terrorism, separatism and extremism together with the fight against drug trafficking and organized crime are becoming the most important task of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization.”

 

In order to fulfill this task, the regional anti-terror center was set inside the Shanghai Cooperation Organization. At the Moscow Summit, all parties agreed to put the headquarters in Tashkent, which was highly appreciated by Uzbekistan government. Besides, both China and Uzbekistan have joined the “Anti-terrorism, separatism and extremism Shanghai Communiqué”. The name itself reveals the meaning that the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) will work together to eliminate any danger posed to this region.

 

What’s more, anti-religion fever has becoming an urgent question of today. Religion fever has dominated and poisoned our youth, misled them, trying to make them the tools of terrorist organizations. So, we have to fight against this fever more firmly and more completely.

 

Sticking to the firm stand against terrorism, extremism and separatism, Uzbekistan is ready to cooperate with all nations including China, in order to safeguard the peace and stability of the region. One thing needs to be pointed out especially, Uzbekistan has joined the effective anti-terror communiqués and treaties of the UN.

 

China.org.cn: China and Uzbekistan have also had close contact in respects of culture and education. For instance, as far as we know, some Chinese students are studying in Uzbekistan. So in your opinion, where does the significance of cultural exchange lie? And at what level is bilateral cultural cooperation at, at present?

 

Amb. Yusupov: The cultural exchange between our two peoples is long standing, and can even be traced to the time of the Silk Road. The establishment of diplomatic relations between Uzbekistan and China in 1992 further pushed forward the growth of bilateral friendship and cooperation.

 

As an important component of bilateral ties, the positive exchange in the fields of culture and education will facilitate our understanding of each other’s history, tradition and achievements, meanwhile serving to spur cooperation in other realms.

 

According to the agreement made by both sides, every year Uzbekistan and China exchange students as well as delegations to attend all kinds of international cultural activities held in both countries.

 

Currently, some sculptors from Uzbekistan are present at an international conference convened in Changchun, capital of Jilin Province. At the same time, a Chinese delegation are to participate in the fourth international music festival Sharq Taronalari (Oriental Melodies), which is scheduled to be held August 24-31 in Samarkand, Uzbekistan’s second largest city. Besides, a traditional instruments orchestra from Tashkent is to take part in the international tourist festival, which will be run in Beijing this October.

 

We hope both countries will have more wide-ranging exchanges in the area of education. It is Uzbekistan’s intention to strengthen educational cooperation with China, since China has made great achievements in this respect recently. Out of the desire for bilateral friendship, considering Uzbekistan’s enormous potential in intelligence, science and culture, China has similarly shown great interest in developing cooperation in science and education with Uzbekistan.

 

(China.org.cn by Shao Da and Zheng Guihong, September 2, 2003)