Uzbekistan’s Transport Minister Ilkhom Makhkamov and China’s Transport Minister Liu Wei have held talks on expanding transport cooperation between the two countries.

The sides discussed increasing the number of air services and the volume of road freight, improving operating conditions for national carriers and strengthening transport and logistics links, according to gov.uz.

They also highlighted the importance of transport cooperation in developing international corridors connecting China with Central Asian countries and other regions.

Following the meeting, the two sides signed a Protocol on Amendments and Additions to the Agreement on International Road Transport.

The implementation of the protocol is expected to expand opportunities for carriers from both countries, improve the efficiency of existing transport routes and reduce administrative barriers.

The agreement comes as Uzbekistan and China seek to strengthen transport connectivity and facilitate the movement of passengers and goods along regional trade corridors.

Uzbekistan and China have developed close economic and transport ties in recent years, with China becoming one of Uzbekistan’s key trading and investment partners. Cooperation spans trade, energy, infrastructure, manufacturing and logistics, while transport connectivity has gained importance as Uzbekistan seeks to strengthen links with China and other markets across Central Asia.

The two countries are also involved in efforts to develop the China-Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan railway, a major regional infrastructure project designed to improve east-west connectivity and create a shorter route between China and Central Asia. Bilateral cooperation is part of broader efforts to expand trade routes linking China with Central Asia and beyond.