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Mirziyoyev: expanding the transport and transit potential of Central Asia remains an important priority
President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev, at the invitation of Chinese President Xi Jinping, delivered a welcoming video message to the participants at the opening ceremony of the third China International Import Expo trade fair on November 4.
The Uzbek president highlighted the event as an indicator of the country’s success in restoring economy and efforts for broader international cooperation amid the current pandemic.
Mirziyoyev briefed about reforms under way in Uzbekistan aimed at liberalizing the national economy, simplifying the foreign trade regime and export-import procedures, harmonizing the regulatory framework with international standards, forming green corridors, speeding up the accession to the World Trade Organization, as well as creating an even more favorable investment climate.
He said that strengthening cooperation in the field of transport and expanding the transport and transit potential of Central Asia remains an important priority.
“Central Asia, as in the age of the Great Silk Road, could once again become a hub of trade, economic, transport and transit corridors between Europe and Asia. Uzbekistan supports the "One Belt, One Road" initiative, which opens up broad prospects for strengthening regional and interregional connectivity”, - Mirziyoyev said.
He underlined the importance of launching new transport corridors linking the railway systems of Central and South Asia, which would fill the gap in the land transport system of the Eurasian continent.
“Uzbekistan supports speeding up the development of the railway construction project along the route of the new multimodal transport corridor China-Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan”, - added Mirziyoyev.
In addition, he proposed to combine efforts in the formation of an integrated network of dry ports, logistics and wholesale distribution centers within the framework of the "One Belt, One Road" initiative.
Taking into account the demand for these initiatives, he said he was looking forward for support by partners and international organizations to create a Regional center for the development of transport and communication connectivity under the auspices of the UN, an idea he first announced at the 75th session of the UN General Assembly.
