On June 21, 2022, Minister of Science and Technology Wang Zhigang held a video meeting with Uzbek Ambassador to China Farhod Arziev. The two sides had an in-depth exchange of views and reached consensus on deepening China-Uzbekistan cooperation in science, technology and innovation.

Minister Wang Zhigang said that in recent years, the Heads of State of China and Uzbekistan have maintained close contact. With deepening political mutual trust and progress in mutually beneficial cooperation, bilateral relations have reached new heights. The Chinese government attaches great importance to the development of science, technology and innovation, firmly implements the innovation-driven development strategy, and pursues openness and cooperation in science and technology. Under the framework of the Subcommittee on Science and Technology Cooperation of the China-Uzbekistan Intergovernmental Cooperation Committee, the two sides have achieved fruitful results in policy exchange, joint R&D, and joint construction of cooperation platforms. Most notably, in the last two years, the two sides have achieved significant progress in the R&D of COVID vaccines and drugs. Taking the 30th anniversary of the establishment of China-Uzbekistan diplomatic relations as an opportunity, China stands ready to further deepen pragmatic cooperation with the Uzbek side in the field of science, technology and innovation and push forward the China-Uzbekistan comprehensive strategic partnership.

Ambassador Arziev said that China and Uzbekistan are friendly neighbors and comprehensive strategic partners, and the relations between the two countries are at their best in history. The Uzbek side highly appreciates China’s development achievements in the field of science, technology and innovation, and China’s experience has given a strong boost to Uzbekistan’s economic and social development. Looking into the future, it is hoped that the two sides will strengthen top-level design of science, technology and innovation cooperation, deepen practical cooperation in biomedicine, ecological and environmental protection, artificial intelligence and other fields, further promote exchanges in the fields of science, technology and innovation, and strengthen coordination in the Shanghai Cooperation Organization and other multilateral frameworks.