Uzbekistan, China Expand Cooperation on Poverty Reduction

Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) — Uzbekistan and China have agreed to expand cooperation on poverty reduction following talks between the Ministry of Poverty Reduction and Employment of Uzbekistan and the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs of the People’s Republic of China, held during the eighth meeting of the Uzbekistan–China Intergovernmental Committee.

The key outcome of the meeting was the signing of a Joint Action Plan on Cooperation in Poverty Reduction for 2026–2027, which sets out the main areas of socio-economic cooperation between the two countries over the next two years.

During talks with Zhang Zhili, Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Rural Affairs of China Zhang Zhili, the sides agreed on several practical initiatives. These include the signing of a memorandum of cooperation between the Institute for Poverty Reduction and Labor Market Research and the International Poverty Reduction Center in China, as well as the establishment of a Technology Transfer Center in Uzbekistan.

The parties also reviewed joint demonstration projects in a “South–South” cooperation format under the China–FAO Trust Fund, aimed at introducing effective rural development practices and increasing employment opportunities.

Both sides approved plans to develop a roadmap for implementing the Joint Action Plan, which will be presented at a high-level forum in Beijing in May 2026. In addition, a Uzbekistan–China Poverty Reduction Forum is scheduled for October 2026 in the Sirdarya region.

The agreements are aimed at expanding employment opportunities, introducing modern approaches to poverty reduction, and strengthening bilateral socio-economic cooperation.