Uzbekistan and Afghanistan Expand Agricultural Cooperation

Special Advisor to the Prime Minister of Japan, Yoshimasa Uno, and First Deputy Minister of Economy and Finance of Uzbekistan, Ilhom Norkulov, held a meeting on October 6 to discuss prospects for deepening bilateral interaction.

The Ministry of Economy and Finance of Uzbekistan reported that the negotiations focused on trade and economic ties, infrastructure and innovation development, as well as finding new areas for cooperation.

The discussion included Kenji Hirata, the Japanese Ambassador to Uzbekistan, and other relevant officials. The parties reviewed opportunities for further development of mutually beneficial partnership and new spheres for practical interaction.

Particular attention was paid to the implementation of initiatives put forward at the first Central Asia – Japan Summit, which took place in December 2025, as well as agreements reached after the high-level visit.

The Japanese side presented the concept of the 'Free and Open Indo-Pacific' (FOIP). This concept was first introduced by Japan in 2016, and an updated version, FOIP 3.0, was presented by Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi in May 2026.

The updated concept prioritizes the development of economic infrastructure for the age of artificial intelligence, ensuring the resilience of energy supply chains and critical raw materials, as well as public-private partnerships and security cooperation.

Furthermore, the meeting discussed prospects for implementing projects in green energy, increasing energy efficiency, and using water-saving technologies.

At the conclusion of the talks, both sides reaffirmed their readiness to consistently develop cooperation in areas of mutual interest and strengthen practical ties between Uzbekistan and Japan.

Uzbekistan and Russia intend to deepen direct interaction between their regions, as well as strengthen industrial cooperation, trade, and investment ties. These issues were discussed on October 6th in Fergana during the plenary session of the third Council of Regions of the two countries.

The event began with the reading of messages from the Presidents of Uzbekistan, Shavkat Mirziyoyev, and Russia, Vladimir Putin. The message from the Uzbek leader was presented by the Deputy Prime Minister of Uzbekistan, Jamshid Khodjayev, while the Russian message was delivered by the First Deputy Prime Minister, Denis Manturov.

Khodjayev emphasized that holding the Council in Fergana is of particular importance for developing interregional ties. He noted that the mechanism of cooperation between the regions of the two states has demonstrated practical effectiveness for more than eight years.

The meeting gathered leaders and representatives from 17 Russian regions, representatives from all regions of Uzbekistan, as well as about 400 entrepreneurs from both countries.

According to Khodjayev, all 14 regions of Uzbekistan maintain stable relations with more than 50 subjects of the Russian Federation. The joint portfolio of cooperation projects exceeds 200 initiatives with a total value of almost 6 billion US dollars.

He stated that this confirms that the regions are one of the solid foundations of partnership for achieving strategic goals.

Manturov reported that since the beginning of 2026, the regions of Russia and their Uzbek partners have organized about 100 joint events, including major business forums in both countries. He also invited participants to Omsk, where the fourth Council of Regions is planned.

The plenary discussion included leaders and representatives from the Fergana, Sunikandaryinsk, and Namangan regions of Uzbekistan, as well as the Krasnoyarsk Krai, Altai Krai, Novosibirsk, and Omsk regions of Russia.

One of the practical outcomes of the meeting was the exchange of four documents: three interregional agreements and one commercial agreement. The Fergana region and the Omsk region signed a cooperation agreement in industry. The Sunikandaryinsk region and the Krasnoyarsk Krai agreed on interaction in the fields of trade, economy, science, technology, culture, and humanitarian issues.

The Namangan region and the Republic of Dagestan approved an action plan for implementing the agreement on trade, economic, scientific and technical, and socio-cultural cooperation.

A separate agreement was signed in the investment sector: the Ministry of Investment, Industry, and Trade of Uzbekistan, together with Wildberries, concluded an investment agreement providing for the construction of a Class A logistics complex.

The Council of Regions is considered one of the mechanisms for developing economic interaction between Uzbekistan and Russia. Direct contact between the regions allows the parties to form new business ties and translate interregional agreements into concrete investment and industrial projects.

The Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Uzbekistan held a meeting with a delegation from the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of the Xinjiang Autonomous Region in China. The delegation was headed by Vice President Chen Yulin. The parties discussed opportunities to expand trade, economic, and investment interaction.

Participants in the negotiations included Sherzod Ibragimov, Deputy Chairman of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Uzbekistan, and Jamil Maksudi, Advisor to the Chairman. The Chinese group included leaders of major enterprises and organizations from Xinjiang operating in the fields of decorative production, construction, aluminum production, cotton trade, and agricultural technologies.

The participants discussed the need to strengthen bilateral and interregional ties, as well as prospects for joint initiatives in the textile industry, building materials, agriculture and livestock farming, healthcare, and logistics. Special attention was paid to the possible signing of a memorandum of understanding between the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Uzbekistan and the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Xinjiang.

It is expected that this document will help expand business contacts, promote direct interaction between entrepreneurs, and advance new joint projects. As part of the visit, the Chinese delegation, at the invitation of the Council of Ministers of the Republic of Karakalpakstan, will participate in the International Investment Forum in Nukus. Representatives from Xinjiang also plan to visit several large production enterprises in the region.

At the conclusion of the meeting, both sides expressed readiness to develop mutually beneficial cooperation and enrich it with new practical initiatives.