Customs Services of Uzbekistan and China Expand Cooperation

Uzbekistan and Pakistan have reached a preliminary agreement to include the transport corridor through China in their bilateral transit trade system.

Details of the Agreement and Route

According to information published by Pakistan Today, the relevant amendments are planned to be formalized during the upcoming visit of the Deputy Prime Minister of Uzbekistan to Pakistan. The parties intend to sign a protocol that will introduce changes and additions to the existing Agreement on Transit Trade Exchange between the two states. This document will officially establish the Chinese route in the list of permitted transport corridors.

New Logistics Path

Under the new plan, goods will move through the Sost dry port, cross western China, and then proceed to Central Asian countries. Pakistan Today reported that expanding the list of routes is intended to ensure the uninterrupted transportation of goods between the two countries amid changing regional security conditions. Once the changes come into force, Pakistan will be able to use the Chinese route to deliver goods to Central Asian countries, including Uzbekistan, while Uzbekistan retains access to Pakistani ports.

Shift in Logistics Priorities

Previously, the shortest and most economically advantageous option was the route through Afghanistan, which formed the basis for the Uzbekistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan railway project. However, due to the deterioration of relations between Islamabad and Kabul and the closure of the Torgam and Chaman border crossings in October 2025, this transport corridor has effectively ceased to function. As an alternative, Pakistan developed routes through Iran and China. Nevertheless, difficulties in the Iranian direction reduced the attractiveness of this path, increasing the significance of the Chinese corridor for regional trade.

Strategic Importance and Trade

Although the route through China is longer and potentially more costly in terms of transportation, it is considered a strategic alternative. This allows the countries to diversify their freight transport and reduce dependence on a single route. According to Pakistan Today, bilateral trade between Pakistan and Uzbekistan reached $445.9 million in 2025. Pakistan's exports amounted to $120.9 million, while imports from Uzbekistan reached $325 million. Pakistan is Uzbekistan's second-largest trading partner in South Asia.

The National Agency for Social Protection of Uzbekistan and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) have reached an agreement to enhance the level of their strategic partnership. Cooperation will be expanded in the areas of digital transformation of the social protection system and the implementation of modern analytical solutions.

Agreement and Meeting of Parties

These agreements were concluded during a meeting between Mansurbek Olloyorov, Director of the National Agency for Social Protection, and Akiko Fuji, UNDP representative in Uzbekistan. Mansurbek Olloyorov noted the successful implementation of the joint project CHANGE, which includes developing a state social insurance system, care service standards, a national strategy, and the 'Gender Equality Seal' initiative for state institutions.

Priorities for Further Interaction

UNDP representatives highly praised the current reforms in Uzbekistan and confirmed their readiness to continue supporting the digital modernization of the social protection system, as well as the adoption of international experience. During the negotiations, the parties defined priority areas for further cooperation. These include the use of artificial intelligence technologies and micro-simulation modeling in shaping public policy, as well as integrating these solutions into the Social Register and case management system.

Areas for Strengthening the Social Sphere

Furthermore, the participants discussed the need to create a long-term care system for the elderly and persons with disabilities, expand inclusive education, promote employment, improve the state social insurance system, conduct actuarial research, and strengthen the agency's analytical potential.

Future Events and Intentions

Following the meeting, the agency director invited UNDP representatives to participate in the World Summit 'Investing in Child Well-being: A Path to Sustainable and Equitable Development for Future Generations,' which will take place on October 21–22, 2026, in Samarkand. The parties reaffirmed their intention to intensify joint work on projects in the fields of social protection, digital transformation, analytics, care systems, gender equality, inclusion, and state social insurance.

Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan discussed opportunities to deepen interaction in the fields of geology, subsoil use, and groundwater resource management.

Working Visit and Discussions

The discussions took place during the working visit of Rustam Yusupov, Deputy Minister of Mining Industry and Geology of Uzbekistan, to the Kyrgyz Republic. During the meetings, the parties reviewed issues regarding the preparation of a joint Action Plan in the mining and geological sectors, as well as potential projects for the exploration and development of mineral deposits.

Technologies and Water Resources

Significant attention was paid to exchanging experience and implementing modern technologies in geological exploration. Participants discussed the prospects of applying advanced subsurface investigation methods for industry development. Kyrgyzstan's experience in the rational use, protection, and monitoring of groundwater reserves was also examined separately.

Future Cooperation

The parties also studied the possibility of applying digital technologies and artificial intelligence for hydrogeological modeling, data analysis, and forecasting. At the conclusion of the meetings, Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan reaffirmed their mutual interest in further developing cooperation and implementing joint projects in the field of geology and rational use of natural resources.