Li Qiang begins official visit to Uzbekistan
Crhk · 2 SOURCESabout 5 hours ago2 MIN
Summary
Chinese Premier Li Qiang arrived in Tashkent on Saturday to begin an official visit to Uzbekistan, part of a six-day trip covering two Central Asian countries and Russia. Uzbek Prime Minister Abdulla Aripov led senior government officials to welcome him at Tashkent International Airport and hosted a formal reception, where the two reviewed a guard of honour. Li said China and Uzbekistan have remained mutually respectful and treated each other as equals throughout 34 years of diplomatic ties, with bilateral relations and cooperation continuing to move forward. He added that recent joint efforts have deepened political trust, strengthened enduring friendship and delivered practical cooperation outcomes benefiting both peoples.
Key Points
- Li Qiang began a six-day foreign trip covering two Central Asian countries and Russia, arriving in Uzbekistan on Saturday afternoon for a formal visit
- The visit took place at the invitation of Uzbek Prime Minister Abdulla Aripov, according to the official account of the trip
- Aripov personally led senior Uzbek government officials to Tashkent International Airport, where a welcome ceremony was held for Li.
- During the airport ceremony, Li and Aripov reviewed the guard of honour together after Li's chartered aircraft landed in Tashkent.
- Li described China and Uzbekistan as good friends, good partners and good brothers, and said leaders' earlier consensus should become concrete results.
Why It Matters
For Hong Kong readers, the visit points to Beijing's continued diplomatic focus on Central Asia and on turning top-level political understandings into practical cooperation. It also underlines that official messaging is framing China-Uzbekistan ties as stable and expanding despite wider international uncertainty, a theme that can shape expectations around regional engagement and economic links.