RELATIONS between China and Uzbekistan date back centuries. The Consul General of Uzbekistan to Shanghai says this strong relationship can be further strengthened in many fields including trade, logistics and tourism. Yao Minji reports.

Saidkamol Agzamkhodjaev, consul general of Uzbekistan to Shanghai, hasn't had much free time since he arrived in the city early last November. He has been busy traveling to the consulate's jurisdictions - Anhui, Fujian, Jiangsu, Jiangxi and Zhejiang provinces - to introduce the favorable investment conditions Uzbekistan has created for Chinese companies.

The two countries are marking the 20th anniversary of establishing diplomatic relations. This occurred in 1992, barely one year after the Republic of Uzbekistan was founded. The consulate in Shanghai, sister city of the country's capital Tashkent, opened in 2006.

"When I arrived last November, it was my first visit to the beautiful city. I did a lot of reading before coming here, but the past months of working in the city has completely redefined my imagination," the consul general tells Shanghai Daily.

"Shanghai is clean and decorated nicely, a skillful combination of Eastern and European styles in urban planning with a lot of tall buildings that are unique and deeply rooted in history."

Such fusion of Eastern and Western elements is essential in relations between China and Uzbekistan, which go back centuries. Such ancient exchanges have shaped the relations of the two nations today.

"The people of Uzbekistan and China share a common Eastern mentality, similar traditions and customs, which help me greatly in establishing trust and fruitful contacts within political and economic circles not only in Shanghai, but also in the five provinces of my jurisdiction," Agzamkhodjaev says.

Bilateral relations originated when the caravan routes of the famous Silk Road trade began, with ancient Uzbekistan people actively involved.

"It is well-known that Amir Temur (a ruler of Central Asia during the late 12th century and early 13th century) and his successors exchanged official diplomatic missions with the imperial court of China back then," he says.

For centuries, the region of Uzbekistan served as a bridge for China to the West through which products made by Chinese craftsmen were exported to the Middle East and Europe. Along with trade, arts and culture from a wide variety of places were also well-mixed into a unique period of history for Uzbekistan, making it an intriguing country for Chinese to visit.

Ties of friendship and mutual understanding, which were established with China 20 years ago, are cherished in Uzbekistan.

The state visits of President Hu Jintao to Uzbekistan in June 2010 and President Islam Karimov to China in June 2012 have opened a new page in the history of Uzbek-Chinese relations and confirmed readiness to further deepen cooperation on the basis of the Agreement on Partnership Relations of Friendship and Cooperation, signed in 2005.

"The official visit of our President Islam Karimov in June 2012 has raised Uzbek-Chinese relations to a qualitatively new stage. It is undoubtedly a memorable one in terms of the historical significance through the signing of the Joint Declaration on Strategic Partnership," Agzamkhodjaev says.

Uzbekistan attaches great importance to further strengthening the Shanghai Cooperation Organization and its participation in the activities of the organization, which has become a major factor in strengthening security and stability in the region and the world at large.

In October 2011, China and Uzbekistan established the Commission of Intergovernmental Cooperation, and held its first meeting in Beijing. Through this mechanism, cooperation will be quickly diversified and more fruitful results will be achieved, Agzamkhodjaev says.

Increasing tourism

Uzbekistan is moving toward increasing tourism and the consul general has put it on his agenda to introduce Uzbekistan's great landscapes, interesting historic sites and stories behind such places to potential visitors.

The country's natural landscapes also make it an attractive spot for hikers and rock-climbers, who love the Chimgan highlands, which is dominated by Greater Chimgan peak at 3,309 meters.

Last year, the Shanghai consulate received about 1,300 visa applications and the majority were for business.

"In Uzbekistan, China is considered an important neighbor with an ancient history and unique culture, a country of immense potential, wielding a rightful leading role in the world economy," he says.

"We also offer to create large-scale high-tech industries with products jointly sold to markets in Uzbekistan and neighboring countries. We are ready to provide the necessary conditions for it within the Free Industrial Economic Zone and the Uzbek-Chinese high-tech industrial park in Jizzakh region," the consul general says.

In 2011, bilateral trade between Uzbekistan and China, one of its largest trading partners, increased 18.9 percent from a year earlier to US$2.6 billion.

Despite the global economic downturn, the consul general is positive about collaboration between the two nations, especially after a series of high-level political exchanges.

Currently, about 400 Chinese-invested enterprises are active in Uzbekistan. Most of these companies are involved in major projects supported by the government.

The successful Kungrad Soda Plant and Dekhkanabad Potash Plant were built with the assistance of Chinese experts.

The two countries have also signed strategic agreements in building bilateral industrial zones in Uzbekistan to attract Chinese companies and investment.

The consul general sees great potential in hydrocarbon, oil and chemicals, mining, transport and logistics, mechanical engineering, telecommunications, among many other fields.

"The countries have been energetic and enthusiastic about construction projects and the Uzbekistan-China gas pipeline will allow for establishing a stable transit corridor for long-term gas supplies to China," he adds.

"Important deals have also been reached in shoring up transport infrastructure and arranging international haulage."

A cargo flight between Navoi and Tianjin started in September with three flights scheduled a week.

In the near future, regular cargo flights are also to link Navoi with Shanghai and Guangzhou, capital of Guangdong Province.

Commercial flights are also expected to open between Urumqi in the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region and Tashkent.

"I am convinced that we have great and reasonable prospects for deepening economic and trade, investment, cultural and educational partnerships," says Agzamkhodjaev.