Chongqing - In recent years, Chongqing has seized the opportunity to accelerate building the city into a Center for International Exchanges in Central and Western China, continuously integrating and expanding foreign affairs resources.

The city has increased efforts to invite foreign entities and expand its presence globally. As a result, Chongqing's international network has grown, fostering broader exchanges with sister cities, solidifying partnerships, and paving the way for a wider path of friendship.

On September 13, 2022, Chongqing Municipality and the Tashkent Region of Uzbekistan signed the "Agreement on Establishing Friendly City-State Relations."

Located in the northeast of Uzbekistan, the Tashkent Region boasts fertile soil, a pleasant climate, and abundant mineral resources. With its convenient geographical location and great tourism potential, it possesses over 500 cultural sites, including hundreds of well-preserved historical, religious, and commemorative sites.

With its rich history, Tashkent was once a vital commercial hub on the ancient Silk Road. Today, within the framework of the Belt and Road Initiative, it continues to script the narrative of the "New Silk Road," primarily through the operation of the China-Europe Railway Express.

The friendship between Chongqing and the Tashkent Region has a long history. After frequent high-level visits and close exchanges, the two regions signed a friendly cooperation agreement as early as 1998. In recent years, they have achieved fruitful cooperation in various fields, such as logistics construction, poverty alleviation training, and rural revitalization.

In April 2018, a delegation from the Tashkent Region visited Chongqing, where they extensively engaged with relevant departments, districts, and enterprises, reaching cooperation agreements in various fields, including economy, trade, and culture.

In March 2019, the Chongqing-Xinjiang-Europe International Railway launched its first direct train service from Chongqing to Tashkent, greatly facilitating economic and trade exchanges between the two regions.

In June 2022, representatives from the Tashkent Region participated in the first phase of the 2022 Chongqing Poverty Reduction and Development Seminar organized by Chongqing, where they learned about the city's experiences in poverty reduction and rural revitalization.

In May 2023, leaders from Chongqing held a video conference with the Governor of the Tashkent Region to discuss topics such as cooperation in China-Europe railway transportation, expanding cooperation in trade and investment, industrial parks, energy and mineral resources, and cultural tourism, taking bilateral cooperation to a new level.

In December 2023, the Governor of the Tashkent Region led a large government and trade delegation to visit Chongqing. There, they jointly held the China Chongqing—Uzbekistan Tashkent Region Economic and Trade Cooperation Exchange Meeting, exploring new opportunities for pragmatic cooperation between the two regions. The Jiulongpo District of Chongqing and Angren City of the Tashkent Region also signed an "Intention Letter for Further Deepening Friendly Cooperation and Exchange."

The scene of China Chongqing - Uzbekistan Tashkent Region Economic and Trade Cooperation Exchange Meeting. (Photo/Foreign Affairs Office of Chongqing Municipal People's Government)

In March 2024, the General Manager of Eurosun Medical Center, one of the largest medical institutions in the Tashkent Region, visited Chongqing to discuss international cooperation in traditional medicine with Chongqing Three Gorges Medical and Pharmaceutical College, aiming to collaborate in traditional medical skills training and talent exchange.

Source: Foreign Affairs Office of Chongqing Municipal People's Government