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)