On October 28 of the current year, a trilateral meeting was held aimed at further expanding cooperation in the field of tourism between the Minister of Culture and Tourism of the People's Republic of China, Hu Heping, the Secretary-General of the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO), Zurab Pololikashvili, and the Minister of Ecology, Environmental Protection, and Climate Change, Aziz Abdukhakimov.

During the meeting, A. Abdukhakimov emphasized the significance of the visit of the Minister of Culture and Tourism of China, Hu Heping, to Uzbekistan and noted that the meeting would not only determine the prospects for bilateral cooperation in the field of tourism but also define joint actions within the framework of the UNWTO.

The Chinese side particularly emphasized that Uzbekistan is a strategic partner in the field of tourism. Hu Heping was informed about the work being carried out to increase mutual tourist flow, develop tourism infrastructure in the republic, and provide incentives for investors in the tourism sector of Uzbekistan. In turn, special gratitude was expressed to the Chinese side for including Uzbekistan in the list of recommended countries for tourist groups from China to visit in March 2023.

It is worth noting that currently, three airlines, “Uzbekistan Airways”, “China Southern Airlines”, and “Loongair”, operate 11 flights per week between Uzbekistan and China. During the meeting, opinions were exchanged on expanding the number of flights in the future. The Chinese side proposed modernizing the regional airports of the republic based on public-private partnerships.

In addition, issues of cooperation within the framework of the initiatives voiced by the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan at the 25th session of the UNWTO General Assembly were discussed. It was also agreed to organize a visit of the delegation from the Committee for Tourism of Uzbekistan to China to study Chinese experience in the field of tourism and develop well-founded proposals and projects for the tourism development strategy until 2030.

In turn, Hu Heping expressed gratitude for the well-organized high-level meeting and warm hospitality extended by the Chinese side. He noted that the 25th session of the UNWTO General Assembly was successful and productive, expressing confidence that the proposals and initiatives put forward by the President of Uzbekistan would contribute to strengthening cooperation not only within the organization but also be useful for effectively addressing current issues in the field. Recognizing the importance of expanding trilateral cooperation between China, Uzbekistan, and the UNWTO, the Chinese Minister stated that it would be appropriate to consider the possibilities of implementing proposals and projects put forward by Uzbekistan within the framework of the "One Belt and One Road" project. Hu Heping proposed promoting opportunities for eco, "green," intellectual, and cultural tourism in Uzbekistan as the most popular tourist destinations among Chinese tourists. He also stated his readiness to expand cooperation in developing special tourism products and routes for Chinese tourists, as well as in training personnel and guides.

In turn, the Secretary-General of the UNWTO, Zurab Pololikashvili, expressed sincere gratitude to Uzbekistan for organizing the anniversary session of the General Assembly at a high level in Samarkand and emphasized that he would start implementing the proposals and initiatives put forward by the President of Uzbekistan at the UNWTO session immediately upon returning to Madrid.

Furthermore, the Secretary-General proposed a trilateral cooperation initiative, which includes inviting teachers and specialists from China to the UNWTO International Tourism Academy, which opened in Samarkand.

He also suggested jointly with the recently established UNWTO thematic office in Samarkand and leading experts from China to develop new projects on the theme of "Tourism on the Silk Road" and include tourist centers of Uzbekistan in the international tourism alliance of cities along the "Silk Road."

As a result of the meeting, the parties agreed to organize a trilateral meeting in a similar format in China in 2024.