· ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL COOPERATION BETWEEN UZBEKISTAN AND CHINA: INVESTMENT, TRADE, AND EMPLOYMENT (2023–2026)

This article analyzes economic and social cooperation between Uzbekistan and China during the 2023–2026 period. The topic’s relevance stems from China’s emergence as the republic’s largest investor and leading foreign trade partner. The study employs a qualitative analysis of documents, national statistical data, and analytical reviews, utilizing systemic, comparative-descriptive, and structural-functional methods. It was found that accumulated Chinese investment grew from less than $300 million in 2016 to $10.7 billion by mid-2025; the portfolio of joint projects exceeds $58 billion; and bilateral trade turnover reached $17.8 billion by the end of 2025. For the first time, China ranked first in terms of the number of foreign-invested enterprises in Uzbekistan (5,044 companies as of early 2026). New impacts were identified in the social sphere, including workforce training for joint manufacturing ventures, teacher training in China, and regional job creation. The study’s practical significance lies in the systematization of cooperation outcomes and the substantiation of measures to reduce asymmetry in the partnership.

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14.10.2026