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Xi’s visit charts new blueprint for all-round China-Uzbekistan cooperation
By He Yin, People’s Daily
Bearing in mind the long-term development of China-Uzbekistan relations and the future welfare of their people, China and Uzbekistan will expand mutually beneficial cooperation, cement their friendship and partnership, and implement the vision of a community with a shared future at the bilateral level, announced Chinese President Xi Jinping and his Uzbek counterpart ShavkatMirziyoyev on Sept. 15.
Xi’s state visit to Uzbekistan, which was paid when the two countries celebrate the 30th anniversary of their diplomatic relations, has achieved fruitful outcomes. It has ushered in a new chapter of bilateral ties between China and Uzbekistan.
China and Uzbekistan’s implementing the vision of a community with a shared future at the bilateral level is a result of the two countries’ mutual respect, good-neighborliness, friendship, mutual assistance, and win-win cooperation over the past 30 years, and mirrors the fact that the giant tree of China-Uzbekistan relationship has taken deeper roots and grown more exuberant.
Over the recent years, Xi and Mirziyoyev have stayed in close contact and forged a good working relationship and deep personal friendship through meetings, phone calls and correspondence.
Under the guidance of the head-of-state diplomacy, China-Uzbekistan relations have embraced rapid development, which not only benefits the two peoples, but also promotes peace and stability, as well as development and prosperity of the region.
Implementing the vision of a community with a shared future at the bilateral level will constantly enrich the connotation of China-Uzbekistan comprehensive strategic partnership and provide strong energy for the two countries to deepen their all-round mutually beneficial cooperation and create a better future.
Xi’s state visit further enhanced China-Uzbekistan political mutual trust. Xi pointed out that as a good friend, a good partner, and a good brother, China firmly supports Uzbekistan in following a development path compatible with its national conditions, supports its efforts to uphold national independence, sovereignty, security, and social stability, and opposes interference by any forces in its internal affairs.
Mirziyoyev said Uzbekistan is firmly and unequivocally committed to the one-China principle, firmly supports China’s position on matters concerning its core interests including those related to Taiwan and Xinjiang, and will always be a good neighbor, a good friend, and a good partner worthy of China’s trust.
Following the official talks, the two heads of state signed and issued the Joint Statement Between the People’s Republic of China and the Republic of Uzbekistan, reiterating that China and Uzbekistan will firmly support each other on issues concerning national sovereignty, security, territorial integrity and other core interests.
Given the growing instability and uncertainty in international situation, the high political mutual trust between China and Uzbekistan is of vital importance for the two countries to jointly achieve development and rejuvenation.
Xi’s state visit charted a new blueprint for all-round cooperation between China and Uzbekistan. To accelerate bilateral cooperation and make it even more fruitful, Xi said the two countries should scale up cooperation on trade and investment, improve the trans-Eurasia transportation corridor, expand energy cooperation, and promote people-to-people exchanges and cooperation in areas including education, culture, tourism, sub-national exchanges, environmental protection and archaeology.
The Chinese side will continue to carry out healthcare, vaccine and pharmaceutical cooperation with Uzbekistan, and the two sides need to enhance cooperation on poverty alleviation, Xi said.
Relevant departments of the two governments signed multiple cooperation documents covering agriculture, digital economy, green development, culture, sub-national cooperation and media. Chinese, Kyrgyz and Uzbek officials signed a trilateral memorandum of understanding concerning cooperation on the China-Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan railway (the section in Kyrgyzstan), which laid a solid foundation for implementing the consensus reached by the two heads of state.
The co-construction of the Belt and Road remains a highlight and an overriding theme of China-Uzbekistan cooperation. The two sides agreed to actively push forward the synergy between the Belt and Road Initiative and the development strategy of “New Uzbekistan” for 2022-2026.
Xi’s state visit reflected China and Uzbekistan’s new vision to enhance international coordination. China and Central Asian countries have a shared future and a deep stake in each other’s security and stability. China is ready to work with Uzbekistan to promote the steady and sustained development of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization and will work with Uzbekistan and other regional countries to strengthen the “China Plus Central Asia”meeting mechanism.
Besides, China and Uzbekistan will actively implement the Global Development Initiative and Global Security Initiative, which is an important measure for the two countries to cope with global challenges.
The two sides stressed that they will obey the international order underpinned by the UN Charter and the basic principles of the international law, and stick to multilateralism with the UN at its core. They will exchange views and coordinate positions on major international and regional issues of common concern, and contribute to building a more just and equitable international governance system.
Xi and Mirziyoyev jointly planted an oak tree at the square outside the north entrance of the International Conference Center, Samarkand. As a symbol of longevity, the oak tree signifies that China-Uzbekistan friendship will thrive and endure.
China and Uzbekistan will keep joining hands on the road toward national development and rejuvenation, and make joint efforts to implement the vision of a China-Uzbekistan community with a shared future.
The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has filed a lawsuit against Senate President Godswill Akpabio over the suspension of Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan. The group argues that the suspension is unlawful and violates her fundamental right to freedom of expression.
SERAP is seeking a court order compelling Akpabio to reverse the six-month suspension, reinstate Akpoti-Uduaghan, and restore all her legislative privileges. The organization also wants an injunction preventing the Senate from imposing further disciplinary actions against her for expressing her views.
Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan was suspended after she reportedly spoke without permission and rejected a new seat assignment in the Senate chamber. As part of her suspension, her salary and allowances have been withheld, and she has been barred from identifying as a senator.
In its suit filed at the Federal High Court in Abuja, SERAP contends that the suspension deprives Akpoti-Uduaghan’s constituents of political representation. The organization also argues that penalizing a senator for exercising free speech creates a chilling effect on other lawmakers.
“No one should ever be punished for speaking without permission,” SERAP stated. “The Senate should uphold the rule of law and protect human rights, not suppress them.”
The group cites constitutional provisions and international human rights treaties, including Section 39 of the Nigerian Constitution, the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights, and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.
SERAP maintains that the Senate Standing Orders cannot override constitutional guarantees of free speech. The lawsuit emphasizes that restricting a senator’s expression undermines democracy and violates Nigerians’ right to receive information and participate politically.
No date has been set for the hearing of the case.
Ahead of the 2027 elections, hundreds of members of market associations and numerous women groups in Kaduna state at the weekend, occupied Kaduna metropolis in a peaceful demonstration where they reiterated their loyalty and support to the administration of
Governor Uba Sani of Kaduna state and President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
The protesters who alleged that they had bitter experiences during the El-Rufa’i administration, said they would remain where Governor Uba Sani stood and advised the citizens of Kaduna not to be deceived by doing the contrary.
They recounted their ordeals during the 8 years of the previous administration, alleging that hundreds of market shops belonging to individuals were either seized, demolished or confiscated, a situation that triggered ill health in many traders and business owners leading to paralysis and multiple deaths of their colleagues.
“We’ve been in the market for over 40 years and have never experienced the kind of set backs we suffered under the previous Governor.”
“A lot of lives were lost,a lot of finances were ruined by reason of his kind of policies. We are here to speak with one voice and say that anything that would kind of revive such kind of philosophy in Kaduna market, we don’t want it,” Daniel Audu Maigari, a stakeholder of the Kaduna Market associations, has said.
He explained that “this incumbent Governor began by healing the wounds, the wounds that were really severed by the former Governor. Governor Uba Sani has been doing so,so very well and that’s why we’ve been with our leader, Alhaji Abdurrahman Mohammed, who like Governor Sani,has been charting the right course, ensuring programmes and plans that will heal these wounds .”
He said there was never been a time they are having the impact of leadership in Kaduna market, like they are having now.
” Now we’ve lots of incentives, lots of policies that are driving us to progress .We are now standing with one voice to denounce anything that would reverse this,” he said.
Alhaji Daiyabu Ismail Mai Gwanjo, Chairman Stakeholders of the Kaduna State Market Traders associations, said on behalf of their leader,Alhaji Abdurrahman Mohammed, his EXCO and all trader leaders in the 23 Local Government Areas of Kaduna State, they have gathered to unilaterally declare an unalloyed support to Governor Uba Sani who had taken care of them and protected their interests.
According to him,” we have to say so,haven had the harrowing experience in the hands of the past administration. The scar still remains and many are yet to recover.”
“But when Almighty Allah sent Governor Uba Sani to us,he declared he would not do anything bad to traders because the world thrives on businesses.All the most cherished countries like China, Canada, UAE, India,are very proud of and supportive to their traders and other business persons.”
“Unfortunately, we found ourselves during the previous administration that neither showed empathy nor sympathy to traders. An approximate number of 36 markets were demolished at that time.None of these markets was completely rebuild ,till date,and we are suspicious of the collaboration between the previous administration and the market developers.”
“We are therefore calling on Governor Uba Sani, our Governor of sympathy and understanding, to look at this issue with a view to resolving it.We are with Uba Sani a hundred percent, ” he added.
Hajiya Hadiza Abdulaziz,a woman leader of the market association,said they have gathered in multitudes to reiterate their support to the APC and Governor Uba Sani who has tremendously supported the market men and women in Kaduna State.
” Most of the market women had no shops because the shops were collected. But now we give God the glory everybody has gotten their shops back and nobody will collect it again,” she said.
She expressed happiness that those making the market women not to achieve, had left the party and government.
“We’ve been crying, a lot of market women don’t have capital, they have been deceiving us.But now,I believe Governor Uba Sani is going to assist us,”she added.
The protesters later took to the streets ,displaying placards with various inscriptions denouncing the previous arrangements, and chanting slogans in support of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Governor Uba Sani and the All Progressives Congress, APC.
” Most of the market women had no shops because the shops were collected. But now we give God the glory everybody has gotten their shops back and nobody will collect it again,” she said.
She expressed happiness that those making the market women not to achieve, had left the party and government.
“We’ve been crying, a lot of market women don’t have capital, they have been deceiving us.But now,I believe Governor Uba Sani is going to assist us,”she added.
The protesters later took to the streets ,displaying placards with various inscriptions denouncing the previous arrangements, and chanting slogans in support of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Governor Uba Sani and the All Progressives Congress, APC.
Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has raised concerns over the selection process of traditional rulers in Nigeria, stating that criminal elements have infiltrated royal institutions. He lamented that individuals with questionable backgrounds, including drug addicts, vagabonds, bandits, and kidnappers, now hold positions of authority as traditional rulers.
Obasanjo made these remarks in his newly released book, Nigeria: Past and Future, unveiled last week. He criticized the rapid increase in traditional rulers, many of whom, he claimed, lack the training and moral integrity required for the role. According to him, this deterioration has weakened the institution’s ability to contribute positively to the nation’s socio-political stability.
“Today, there are criminals, drug addicts, vagabonds, bandits, and kidnappers as so-called traditional rulers,” Obasanjo stated, stressing that some have abandoned their cultural responsibilities and engaged in misconduct. He cited an example of a monarch allegedly involved in electoral malpractice, questioning the moral integrity of such leaders.
“How do we account for a traditional ruler snatching a ballot box at an election polling station and running away with it?” he queried.
Reflecting on the past, Obasanjo noted that traditional rulers once commanded immense respect, especially during colonial and early post-independence eras. However, he said, their influence has been diluted due to the lack of proper training and moral reformation.
“The class of traditional rulers with their distinction, honour, and dignity, as we knew them in the colonial days and early post-independence days, has been diluted and polluted,” he remarked.
Calling for urgent reforms, the former president stressed the need to restore the lost dignity of traditional leadership. He emphasized that rather than being a liability, traditional rulers should play a vital role in national development.
“That dignity, aura, and respect should be brought back, and traditional rulers should be an asset to Nigeria’s development and greatness, not a liability,” he asserted.
Obasanjo further called for moral rejuvenation among traditional rulers, particularly those from historically significant institutions. He maintained that if properly positioned, they could contribute significantly to Nigeria’s long-term progress.
“There is a need for moral re-armament among the traditional rulers—the ancient and historic ones. They can and should make meaningful contributions to the Nigeria of our dreams that will serve the purpose and interest of all,” he concluded.
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