On August 26, Gao Xiang, president of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences (CASS), met in Beijing with a delegation led by Sodyq Safoev, First Deputy Chairman of the Senate of the Oliy Majlis of the Republic of Uzbekistan and Rector of the University of World Economy and Diplomacy (UWED) in Uzbekistan. During the meeting, Gao accepted an honorary doctorate from UWED. Li Xuesong, vice president of CASS, attended the meeting.

Gao noted that, under the strategic guidance of President Xi Jinping and President Shavkat Mirziyoyev, China-Uzbekistan relations have been elevated to an all-weather comprehensive strategic partnership for the new era and have entered the best period in their history. The development strategies of the two countries are highly aligned, and the two sides share many common priorities in promoting economic development, improving people’s well-being, enhancing national governance, and safeguarding regional security.

In January this year, CASS and UWED jointly established a book house dedicated to the works of General Secretary of the CPC Central Committee Xi Jinping in Tashkent. The book house provides an important platform for the Uzbek side to deepen its understanding of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, learn more about the history and theories of the Communist Party of China (CPC), and gain insight into China’s experience in advancing Chinese modernization. It plays a positive role in fostering mutual understanding.

Gao said that CASS is ready to broaden the scope of cooperation with the Uzbek side, further strengthen friendly exchanges among young people, deepen research on state governance, promote civilizational exchanges and mutual learning, and jointly develop the book house. These efforts will provide greater intellectual support for the development of both countries and, through academic collaboration, help promote the steady and sustainable development of China-Uzbekistan relations.

Safoev stated that the establishment of the book house provides an important window for faculty, researchers, and students at UWED to deepen their understanding of contemporary China and Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era. Today, China is steadily advancing along the path of Chinese modernization and has achieved widely recognized progress in areas including the development of special economic zones, the eradication of extreme poverty, agricultural modernization, ecological and environmental governance, and the advancement of multilateralism.

Safoev pointed out that the four global initiatives proposed by President Xi Jinping respond to the needs of our time and aim to build a more just and equitable global governance system, providing a “golden key” for humanity to address common challenges. These major achievements and important concepts have dispelled the misconception that “modernization equals Westernization” and provided valuable reference for countries seeking development paths suited to their own national conditions. Uzbekistan is willing to draw fully on the CPC’s experience in state governance, deepen the alignment of the two countries’ development strategies, promote fruitful cooperation, and work together to achieve shared development.

Representatives from the Chinese People’s Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries, the Embassy of the Republic of Uzbekistan in China, and relevant departments of CASS attended the event. Prior to the meeting, Safoev and his delegation visited the Chinese Archaeological Museum.