Uzbekistan and China have agreed to expand cooperation on environmental protection, including the development of early warning systems for dust and sandstorms, according to Uzbekistan’s National Committee on Ecology and Climate Change.
The agreement was discussed during a meeting between Aziz Abdukhakimov, Advisor to the President of Uzbekistan on environmental issues, and Huang Runqiu, China’s Minister of Ecology and Environment. The talks took place on the sidelines of a regional environmental summit.
Both sides noted that cooperation between the two countries in environmental protection has been expanding and becoming more practical. Officials focused on joint efforts to address environmental challenges, introduce modern technologies, and strengthen scientific collaboration.
Uzbekistan expressed appreciation for China’s support in establishing the Central Asian Regional Research Center for Combating Desertification and Developing Desert Economies at Green University, created with the participation of the Chinese Academy of Sciences. The center is expected to serve as a platform for research, training, and the development of solutions to land degradation.
According to Huang Runqiu, cooperation between the two countries has already produced concrete results. He noted that 11 waste-to-energy plants are currently being built in Uzbekistan by Chinese investors, reflecting what he described as “a high level of trust” and effective bilateral cooperation.
The Uzbek side proposed several new areas for collaboration, including studying China’s use of satellite systems for climate monitoring, gaining experience in tracking dust and sandstorms, and exploring the work of China’s national environmental monitoring centers. Other proposals included organizing a joint international forum on ecology and establishing a shared laboratory to monitor air and water quality.
China expressed support for these initiatives and confirmed its readiness to move toward practical implementation. The two sides discussed creating a joint laboratory for environmental monitoring and expanding scientific research, including cooperation with international organizations such as the World Meteorological Organization.
A key outcome of the meeting was an agreement to apply China’s experience in early warning systems for dust and sandstorms in Uzbekistan. These systems are expected to improve preparedness and response to environmental risks.
China also offered to send scientists and experts to Uzbekistan to support training and capacity building, while inviting Uzbek specialists to China for knowledge exchange.
