Uzbekistan, the most populous nation in Central Asia, was an important commercial hub along the ancient Silk Road, a series of ancient trade routes spanning various regions of Central Asia and China. In June 2004, the SCO, founded in June 2001 by China, Russia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan, launched its Regional Antiterrorism Structure in Tashkent. This body coordinates antiterrorism activities among SCO member countries. China and Uzbekistan have cooperated smoothly within the SCO framework. The two countries also signed a bilateral agreement in 2003 to work together to combat terrorism, separatism and extremism.

Their bilateral trade volume reached $970 million in 2006, up 42.8 percent from the previous year. It hit $826 million in the first nine months of this year, up 3.6 percent from the same period last year. Tashkent hosts the first Confucius Institute in Central Asia. The institute, aiming to promote Chinese language and culture, is attracting an increasing number of students.

China-Turkmenistan Relations

China-Turkmenistan relations have flourished since the two countries established diplomatic ties in 1992. Mutual political trust and support on major issues of common concern are the two prominent features of their friendly cooperation.

The two countries' economic and trade cooperation has made great headway in recent years. Given their emerging complementary advantages in markets, technology, capital and resources, their cooperative programs in major fields such as energy, transportation, telecommunications, chemicals, building materials, textiles and food processing keep advancing. Their bilateral trade volume reached $179 million in 2006, up 62.4 percent from the previous year. It hit $212 million in the first nine months of this year, up 124.6 percent from the same period last year.

Energy is a priority in China-Turkmenistan relations. Construction of the planned gas pipeline between the two countries started in August. When it is completed, Turkmenistan will provide China with 30 billion cubic meters of natural gas annually for 30 years.

China and Turkmenistan have stepped up their joint efforts to crack down on terrorism, separatism and extremism, including "Eastern Turkistan" terrorist forces, since they signed a bilateral agreement in 2006 to cooperate in combating the three evil forces.

Gurbanguly Berdymukhamedov paid his first state visit to China in July after he became Turkmenistan's president in February. He signed a joint statement with Chinese President Hu Jintao, identifying a clear way to consolidate and further develop friendly cooperative relations between the two countries.

China-Belarus Relations

China-Belarus relations have undergone healthy and stable development since the two countries established diplomatic relations in 1992. There have been frequent high-level visits between the two countries in recent years. Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko has paid four state visits to China.

China and Belarus share similar positions on many major international issues. Economic and trade cooperation is also an important part of their bilateral relations. Their two-way trade soared to nearly $800 million in 2006 from less than $460 million in 2004. From January to July this year, it reached $466 million, up 71.8 percent from the same period last year. China is planning to expand its investment in Belarus and participate in a number of cooperative programs.

Given the two countries' strong cultural links, an increasing number of Belarusian students are learning Chinese. A Confucius Institute was set up in January at Belarusian State University in Minsk. To date, the number of Chinese students in Belarus has exceeded 1,300 and is on the rise.

China-Russia Relations

China and Russia forged a strategic partnership in 1996. Since then, their relations have made huge strides and reached an unprecedented level. The presidents of the two countries have met five times this year, jointly putting forward principles and goals for the future development of their partnership.

The two governments have taken concrete measures in light of these to promote bilateral cooperation. Their bilateral trade volume reached $34.9 billion from January to September, and is expected to exceed $40 billion this year. Russia's export of electromechanical products to China has increased for the first time in recent years, marking an improvement in the two countries' trade mix.

China and Russia work together in the fields of investment, energy, science and technology, aviation, space, transportation, environmental protection and culture. Their governments also encourage cooperation at local levels. The "Year of Russia in China 2006" and the "Year of China in Russia 2007," during which a total of more than 500 events were staged, have further enhanced the two nation's understanding and traditional friendship.

Sources: www.xinhuanet.com, www.fmprc.gov.cn