HISTORICAL TRAJECTORIES AND CONTEMPORARY DYNAMICS OF CULTURAL DIALOGUE AND DIPLOMATIC RELATIONS BETWEEN UZBEKISTAN AND CHINA
Keywords:
Uzbek-Chinese relations, diplomacy, cultural dialogue, BRI (Belt and Road Initiative), Confucian ethics, Eastern diplomacy, international friends, regional relationsAbstract
In today’s world, relations between China and Uzbekistan are dynamic and closely connected to the Confucian concept of “international friends.” The friendly ties between the two nations, which initially developed through interpersonal relationships, have since evolved into a component of state policy across political, economic, and social spheres. It is important to note that the notion of an “international friend” has been formed and interpreted differently in the East and the West. The idea of “Asians” and the role of Western diplomats, who significantly influenced the shaping of these relations, played a crucial part in this process. In this context, the authors analyze the historical development and philosophical significance of Uzbek-Chinese relations, which not only reinforce official state-level connections but also foster friendly relations between representatives of both sides. Special attention is also given to the development of the ancient Silk Road and China’s modern “Belt and Road Initiative.”
References
(Liu, 2023). Liu Chunyan. The Role of Cultural Diplomacy in the New Era of China–Uzbekistan Relations. Las Palmas, European Scholar Journal, Vol. 4, No. 4, pp. 148–152.
Dadabaev Timur. (2018). “Silk Road” as Foreign Policy Discourse: The Construction of Chinese, Japanese and Korean Engagement Strategies in Central Asia. Amsterdam, Journal of Eurasian Studies, Vol. 9, No. 1, pp. 30–41.
Dadabaev Timur. (2020). De-securitizing the “Silk Road”: Uzbekistan’s Cooperation Agenda with Russia, China, Japan, and South Korea in the post-Karimov era. London; Thousand Oaks, Journal of Eurasian Studies, Vol. 11, No. 2, pp. 174–187.
Shozamonov S. I., Nazarova S., Djuraev B. (2021). Problems of Development of the Uzbek Language in Current Society. Irvine, Open Journal of Modern Linguistics, Vol. 11, pp. 613–620.
Vanderhill Rebecca. (2025). In the shadow of the dragon: Chinese soft power in Central Asia. Oxford, International Affairs, Vol. 101, No. 4, pp. 412–430.
Xi Jinping. (2022). Strengthening China–Uzbekistan Friendship through Cultural and Humanitarian Cooperation. Beijing, People’s Daily Online, September 14, 2022.
Global Times. (2024). Uzbekistan Culture Days Held in Beijing to Enhance Cultural Exchange. Beijing, Global Times, January 23, 2024.
Lex.uz. (2023). Agreement on the Establishment of the Uzbekistan–China Intergovernmental Committee and Related Protocols. Tashkent, National Legal Database of the Republic of Uzbekistan, 2023.
Global Times. (2024,). China, Uzbekistan upgrade bilateral ties. https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202401/1306016.shtml
Bjola, C. (2013). Understanding enmity and friendship in world politics: The case for a diplomatic approach. The Hague Journal of Diplomacy, 8(2), 1–20.
Sayfullaev, D. B. (2020). Conceptual basis of the modern West and East diplomacy study. Journal of Legal, Ethical and Regulatory Issues, 23(2), 1–10.
Sung, K. H. (2017). Friendship in the Confucian tradition. CUNY Academic Works. https://academicworks.cuny.edu/si_pubs/326/
Yan, Y. (1996). The flow of gifts: Reciprocity and social networks in a Chinese village. Stanford University Press.
Eurasianet. (2021). For coveted spots in China, Uzbek students 'study like crazy'. https://eurasianet.org/for-coveted-spots-in-china-uzbek-students-study-like-crazy
Eurasian Research Institute. (2023). Fresh Impulse of the BRI Projects in Central Asia. https://www.eurasian-research.org/publication/fresh-impulse-of-the-bri-projects-in-central-asia/
Al-Farabi (2016). Fozil odamlar shahri. Toshkent: Yangi asr avlodi.