China and Uzbekistan have had close diplomatic relations over the last two decades. The two countries signed an agreement on forging a strategic partnership in 2012 to collaborate more deeply in varies areas. Besides, trade ties between the two countries have been growing steadily over the past decade.

Uzbekistan, a country of 30 million people, lies in the heart of Central Asia.

The country’s economy relies mainly on commodity exports, including cotton, gold, uranium, and natural gas.

Bilateral trade between China and Uzbekistan stood at 2.88 billion U.S. dollars in 2012, up 32.8 percent from the previous year, putting China second among Uzbekistan’s largest trading partners.

Chinese investment accounted for 35.6 percent of total foreign investment in Uzbekistan, making China Uzbekistan’s biggest foreign investor.

Chinese ambassador to Uzbekistan Zhang Xiao said, "Bilateral trade has reached 2.54 billion dollars in the January-July period this year, a 60 percent increase year-on-year."

China and Uzbekistan also cooperate closely within multilateral frameworks such as the United Nations and the Shanghai Cooperation Organization. They have supported each other’s stance on major issues and safeguarded common interests.