The event brought together representatives of research institutions, think tanks and relevant government agencies from Uzbekistan and China.

The participants discussed the current state and future prospects of regional cooperation within the CAREC Program, alongside opportunities to apply China’s experience in improving public welfare and alleviating poverty.

Amb.Javlon Vakhabov, Managing Director of the IICA, highlighted the CAREC Program’s substantial contribution to the sustainable development of its member states. In Uzbekistan, the CAREC framework has mobilized approximately $14 billion to implement 44 projects across the transport, energy, finance, and agriculture sectors.

CAREC Institute Director Charymuhammet Shallyyev emphasized the Institute’s readiness to develop close partnerships with think tanks and research institutions of the Program's member states, placing special focus on joint efforts in sustainable development.

Head of Department Abdurashid Bozorov at the Center for Economic Research and Reform under the Administration of the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan, highlighted the development of transport infrastructure as a key area of cooperation. Within this framework, a majority of the region's highways and railways that are part of the CAREC transport corridor network has already been modernized. The construction of the China-Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan railway is poised to ensure direct transport connections, advance multimodal transit, and integrate with regional logistics hubs, providing access to European and Western Asian markets.

Deputy Director He Shengnian of the International Poverty Reduction Center in China outlined China’s achievements in improving public welfare. Between 2012 and 2020, a targeted assistance program successfully lifted nearly 100 million rural residents in China out of poverty. Following the overcoming of absolute poverty, the country’s primary efforts are now focused on preventing households from falling back into poverty, boosting incomes, and advancing the comprehensive development of rural areas.

Deputy Director Zamon Khaldarov of the Institute for Macroeconomic and Regional Studies under the Cabinet of Ministers of the Republic of Uzbekistan presented the outcomes of the ongoing reforms in Uzbekistan. In recent years, the incomes of 8.5 million vulnerable citizens have been raised, and the poverty rate has been reduced from nearly 35% to 5.8%. Under the "Uzbekistan-2030" Strategy, targets have been set to expand the economy to over $240 billion, achieve upper-middle-income status, and completely eliminate poverty.

Director Bi Jieying of the Center for International Agricultural Research, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, emphasized that rural development must rely on the integration of advanced technologies, the application of science-based approaches, and the training of qualified workforce.

In this context, the expert noted the promising potential for expanding cooperation between Uzbekistan and China. This could be supported by the implementation of Uzbekistan-China Joint Action Plan on Poverty Reduction Cooperation for 2026-2027, alongside the active engagement of the Central Asia-China Poverty Reduction Cooperation Center.

In conclusion, the participants expressed their readiness to continue joint efforts to deepen regional economic integration in alignment with CAREC objectives, sustain expert dialogue, conduct joint research, and advance practical initiatives.