John Lee Ka-chiu and Shavkat Mirziyoyev Photo: Press Service of the President of Uzbekistan
President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev met in Tashkent with John Lee Ka-chiu, Chief Executive of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the People's Republic of China. The sides agreed to create a joint Business Council and to establish a reciprocal visa-free regime, according to the press service of the Central Asian state's leader.
Mirziyoyev and his guest discussed ways to expand the Uzbek-Chinese partnership, including direct ties with Hong Kong. The two leaders noted that their countries are steadily implementing agreements reached at the highest level. In May, for example, a meeting of the Intergovernmental Commission in Beijing and the third Interregional Forum in Xi'an were successfully held. Hong Kong also hosted an economic forum and an industrial exhibition, while the opening of Uzbekistan's trade house in China marked another significant milestone.
The next step in strengthening this mutually beneficial partnership will be the adoption of a comprehensive cooperation program. It envisages expanding trade, economic, and financial ties, establishing industrial cooperation, developing educational and tourism projects, launching direct air links with Hong Kong, and opening an Uzbek consulate in the territory.
Priority areas include green energy, agriculture, biotechnology, the digital economy, fintech, innovative startups, and artificial intelligence. To advance these efforts, the sides agreed to draft a «roadmap» for implementing the relevant joint initiatives.
The visa-free regime was also discussed at a meeting between the Hong Kong leader and Uzbekistan's Minister of Foreign Affairs, Bakhtiyor Saidov. According to the ministry's press service, the talks concluded with an exchange of verbal notes on the intention to sign a corresponding agreement.
The Uzbek foreign minister said the move would open new opportunities for business, tourism, and humanitarian exchanges, while bringing the peoples of the two countries closer together. He added that Hong Kong's unique experience and strong potential as one of the world's leading international financial and business centers would significantly contribute to modernizing the Central Asian republic's economy and to implementing joint high-tech projects.
The planned visa-free regime would cover a period of 30 days. At present, Hong Kong passport holders can visit Uzbekistan without entry documents for up to 10 days, while Uzbek citizens still require a visa to travel to the Special Administrative Region.
