During the meeting, the parties discussed the current state and future prospects of bilateral and regional cooperation in the energy sector.

The Director of IICA, Javlon Vakhabov, briefed the guests on the institute’s activities, its goals and objectives, and provided detailed information on contemporary cooperation processes in Central Asia, as well as interaction among regional states within the “CA+” platform.

In turn, ETRI President Lu Ruquan highly praised the reforms and achievements in strengthening partnership between China and Uzbekistan, particularly emphasizing the role of the leaders of the two countries in this process.

It was noted that the trust-based relationship between the President of Uzbekistan, Shavkat Mirziyoyev, and the President of the People’s Republic of China, Xi Jinping, has played a key role in elevating bilateral relations to the level of a long‑term comprehensive strategic partnership.

Additionally, Lu Ruquan highlighted the importance of CNPC’s participation in the implementation of joint energy projects. Special attention was given to CNPC’s investments in Uzbekistan’s energy sector, the total volume of which has already exceeded $5 billion.

The discussion also covered prospects for establishing close cooperation between IICA and CNPC ETRI. Within this framework, the parties agreed to conduct joint research on the development of “green” energy in Central Asia.

At the conclusion of the meeting, both sides confirmed their readiness to expand practical cooperation, including organizing working visits and expert discussions within bilateral cooperation and multilateral platforms.

The Economics and Technology Research Institute (ETRI) of CNPC is a leading analytical center in China specializing in economic and energy research. Founded in 1964, it is a structural division of CNPC and develops expert recommendations for both the company and the Chinese government.