TASHKENT, Uzbekistan, May 26. The first container train has departed from Uzbekistan’s capital, Tashkent, bound for Fuzhou, a major city in China’s southeastern Fujian Province, Trend reports via the Uzbekistan’s Ministry of Transport.
Carrying 50 containers of Uzbek goods, the train's journey to the East China Sea port of Fuzhou marks a significant milestone in strengthening trade and transport connectivity between the two nations. The new route integrates both overland and maritime components of the Silk Road and supports the broader objectives of China’s Belt and Road Initiative.
A ceremonial send-off was attended by Mamambiy Omarov, First Deputy Minister of Transport of Uzbekistan, and Zhao Long, Governor of Fujian Province, who led a visiting Chinese delegation.
In his remarks, Omarov emphasized that the launch of the new route reflects Uzbekistan’s growing export capacity and signals a new phase of bilateral cooperation in transportation. He also highlighted a record-breaking freight turnover between the two countries, which reached 6 million tons in 2024.
During the meeting, the two sides discussed further strengthening cooperation in transport, transit, and logistics. Governor Zhao Long reaffirmed Fujian Province’s strong interest in expanding trade, investment, and technological collaboration with Uzbekistan, particularly in sectors such as new energy, petrochemicals, electronics, and the digital economy.
Launched by China in 2013, the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) is a global development strategy designed to enhance trade, infrastructure, and connectivity across Asia, Europe, and Africa. It consists of two main components: the overland Silk Road Economic Belt and the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road. More than 150 countries have joined the initiative, which promotes large-scale investment in transportation, energy, and logistics networks.
