On the morning of October 17, 2026, at the invitation of Prime Minister of Uzbekistan Abdulla Aripov, Premier of the State Council Li Qiang left Beijing by chartered plane for an official visit to Uzbekistan. State Councilor and Secretary-General of the State Council Wu Zhenglong and other accompanying officials left Beijing on the same plane.

On the afternoon of October 17, local time, Li Qiang arrived at Tashkent’s Humo International Airport by chartered plane. Abdulla Aripov and senior government officials greeted Li Qiang at the airport and held a welcome ceremony in his honor. Accompanied by Abdulla Aripov, Li Qiang reviewed the guard of honor. Chinese Ambassador to Uzbekistan Yu Jun was also present to greet Li Qiang at the airport.

Li Qiang stated that the traditional friendship between China and Uzbekistan has a long history, and that the two countries are good friends, good partners and good brothers. Over the past 34 years since the establishment of diplomatic relations, China and Uzbekistan have always respected each other and treated each other as equals, regardless of changes in the international landscape. Bilateral relations and cooperation have continued to move forward, with new vitality and dynamism. In recent years in particular, with the joint efforts of both sides, political mutual trust between China and Uzbekistan has become more solid, friendship has taken deep root in the hearts of the people, and practical cooperation has achieved fruitful results, delivering tangible benefits to the two peoples.

Li Qiang noted that Chinese President Xi Jinping and Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev met in Bishkek not long ago and reached important consensus on further deepening bilateral relations. China is ready to work with Uzbekistan to translate the consensus reached by the two heads of state into more tangible outcomes, and deepen and strengthen the building of the China-Uzbekistan community with a shared future.