Tajikistan and Uzbekistan have agreed to launch a pilot multimodal transport corridor linking China and Europe via Central Asia and the Middle East. The project will begin with a test shipment, as a convoy of ten trucks departs from Uzbekistan, transits through Tajikistan, and continues toward China. The exact departure date and transit times have not yet been disclosed. In parallel, the two countries agreed to switch to an electronic permit system and to increase capacity at the Jartepa–Sarazm border crossing, measures aimed at streamlining cross-border logistics. The initiative is seen as an important step toward developing an alternative overland route between Asia and Europe.

President Shavkat Mirziyoyev has announced Uzbekistan’s intention to join the Eurasian transport corridors. According to media reports, he made the statement during the expanded meeting of the Supreme Eurasian Economic Council in Saint Petersburg.

The President noted that the issue is being addressed within the framework of a joint working group. The fifth meeting of the group is scheduled to take place in Tashkent in 2026.

Mirziyoyev also supported the launch of negotiations on an agreement for the exchange of information on goods and vehicles. It is expected that this will improve the efficiency of customs control and accelerate the integration of transport systems across the region.

Uzbekistan has held observer status in the EAEU since 2020 and actively participates in key cooperation formats. Over this period, the country’s foreign trade turnover with the Union has nearly doubled.

The Ganquanpu Economic and Technological Development Zone in Urumqi (Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, China) and the Aktobe Special Economic Zone in Kazakhstan have signed a framework cooperation agreement.

The agreement предусматривает совместное создание international cooperation park, which will serve as a new platform for international trade and investment.

The partnership is aimed at deepening interregional cooperation between China and Kazakhstan and moving it into a practical implementation phase. The project is expected to support industrial cooperation, more efficient use of resources, and increased investment activity between the two countries.

A new distribution center for cold-chain cargo has been launched in China to support rail services connecting China, Central Asia and Europe, according to Chinese media reports.

The announcement was made at a partner conference focused on the development of international rail logistics. The new facility will serve as a hub for perishable goods and is expected to speed up cross-border shipments along this strategically important route.

Specialized cold-chain trains are planned to begin operations in 2026. The first batch of agricultural products has already been shipped through the new infrastructure and delivered to European warehouses in just over ten days — from harvest to arrival.

Uzbekistan’s foreign trade turnover reached $66.5 billion in January–October 2025, marking a 21.5% increase compared to the same period last year. Exports rose to $29 billion, imports to $37.5 billion, leading to a reduction in the trade deficit. Food exports showed particularly strong growth (+40%), driven by higher shipments of fruits, vegetables and grains. Chemical products climbed by 21%, while exports of finished goods jumped by 54%, including a 16% rise in clothing. The energy sector also expanded by 10%, and service exports grew by 33%, supported mainly by tourism, transport and IT. At the same time, exports of textiles, fabrics, non-ferrous metals, automobiles and other machinery declined. Although gold exports were nearly halted in October, total shipments over ten months approached $10 billion, setting a new historical high.

On the import side, machinery remains the largest category, with increased purchases of equipment and spare parts. Imports of meat, auto components, cast iron and steel, as well as medical products, also grew sharply, alongside steady increases in industrial and chemical goods. Meanwhile, imports of cars and fuel-related products declined. China remains Uzbekistan’s leading trade partner with a turnover of $13.1 billion, followed by Russia with $10.6 billion. Kazakhstan, Turkey and South Korea also remain among the country’s key trading partners.