Uzbekistan and China are stepping up joint efforts to combat poverty and boost employment through a new wave of social and economic cooperation agreements.

During the 8th meeting of the Uzbekistan-China Intergovernmental Committee, officials from the Uzbek Ministry of Poverty Reduction and Employment and the Chinese Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs held talks focused on expanding collaboration in poverty alleviation, The Caspian Post reports via UzDaily.

A key outcome of the meeting was the signing of a Joint Action Plan on Poverty Reduction Cooperation for 2026-2027, setting out priority areas for bilateral engagement over the next two years.

Both sides agreed on a series of practical initiatives, including a memorandum of cooperation between Uzbekistan’s Institute for Poverty Reduction and Labour Market Research and China’s International Poverty Reduction Center, aimed at sharing expertise and best practices.

Plans were also announced to establish a Technology Transfer Center in Uzbekistan, designed to support innovation and improve development outcomes in rural and low-income regions.

Officials further discussed joint pilot projects under the China-FAO Trust Fund in a “South-South cooperation” format, focusing on rural development, job creation, and improving livelihoods in agricultural communities.

In addition, both sides agreed to prepare a detailed roadmap for implementing the action plan, which will be presented at a high-level forum in Beijing in May 2026.

A separate Uzbekistan-China Poverty Reduction Forum is also planned for October 2026 in the Syrdarya region, aimed at strengthening regional development strategies and cooperation.