Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.uz) — The second China–Central Asia (Uzbekistan) 2026 Trade Exhibition will be held at the Tashkent International Exhibition Centre from 14 to 16 October.
Around 200 Chinese companies from 19 provinces, autonomous regions and centrally administered municipalities of China will participate, the organisers said at a press conference.
The exhibition is organised by the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade (CCPIT). The first edition was held in 2025, making this the second consecutive year Uzbekistan has hosted the event.
The organisers intend the exhibition to serve as a specialised platform for strengthening trade and economic cooperation, developing business contacts between China and Central Asian countries, and promoting industrial cooperation.
Exhibition marks anniversary of China–Uzbekistan partnership
Liu Yue, chief representative of the CCPIT representative office in Kazakhstan, said the event was being organised in accordance with agreements reached by the leaders of China and Uzbekistan.
It is intended to put into practice the outcomes of the China–Central Asia Summit and the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit, deepen China’s trade and economic ties with Uzbekistan and other countries in the region, and advance the development of a closer China–Central Asia community with a shared future.
Liu Yue said holding the exhibition for a second consecutive year reflected China’s determination to expand its presence in the Central Asian market and make bilateral cooperation more substantive and far-reaching.
She also thanked Uzbekistan’s Ministry of Investment, Industry and Trade, which is supporting the event, as well as the Tashkent Region Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the Economic Committee and the industrial association for helping prepare the exhibition and facilitate cooperation between companies from the two countries.
The exhibition is taking place in the year marking the 10th anniversary of comprehensive strategic partnership relations between China and Uzbekistan. In addition, 2026 has been designated as a year for high-quality development of cooperation between China and Central Asian countries.
According to the organisers, at the SCO Council of Heads of State meeting on 31 August, the leaders of the two countries outlined a course towards a new “golden decade” of bilateral relations. The press release said both countries, guided by the “China–Central Asia spirit”, were expanding opportunities for cooperation in trade liberalisation, industrial investment and green development.
Bilateral trade triples in seven years as China remains Uzbekistan’s largest investor
Azamat Rakhmonov, head of the department for cooperation with China at Uzbekistan’s Ministry of Investment, Industry and Trade, outlined the development of economic ties between the two countries.
According to him, bilateral trade has tripled over the past seven years. Trade turnover reached US$17.8 billion in 2025, up 34% from the previous year.
China remains Uzbekistan’s largest trading partner and its largest investor. As of September 2026, around 6,500 enterprises with Chinese capital, including joint ventures, were operating in Uzbekistan. They work in mining, agriculture, the automotive industry and other sectors.
Rakhmonov noted that Uzbekistan’s location in the centre of Central Asia offered logistical advantages. This allows joint ventures to export products to neighbouring countries and pursue business models targeting third-country markets, he said.
He expressed confidence that the exhibition would bring together advanced Chinese technologies, equipment and specialists, while giving entrepreneurs opportunities to conduct business and exchange information through electronic platforms.
He also said he expected the event to produce practical results, including the signing of memorandums and investment letters of intent by a number of companies. The ministry would actively assist Chinese enterprises in implementing projects, he added. Rakhmonov thanked the leaders of both countries and local officials for supporting bilateral relations and economic growth.
Robotics, electric vehicles and AI in focus
Liu Yue said the programme had been substantially revised from the first exhibition to better reflect the industrial profiles of China and Uzbekistan. The organisers highlighted the complementary nature of the two countries’ industries.
Key areas will include industrial automation and robotics, new-energy vehicles and components, AI-powered devices and artificial intelligence services. Other areas will feature energy storage systems, photovoltaic modules, smart-home systems, cloud computing and big data.
What visitors can expect: three key features
Liu Yue outlined three main features of the exhibition.
The indoor exhibition space will cover 4,000 square metres, while the outdoor area will exceed 800 square metres. Five themed zones will focus on intelligent manufacturing, green energy, consumer electronics, trade in services and new-energy transport.
The zones will showcase China’s progress in developing new productive forces. According to the organisers, these technologies align with the economic development and industrial modernisation priorities of Uzbekistan and other countries in the region.
For the first time, a special “China’s Opportunities” exhibition area will present the country’s progress in expanding external openness, business conditions in different regions and advanced intelligent technologies.
An interactive area dedicated to traditional Chinese culture will also be set up, allowing visitors to take part in themed activities.
The organisers aim to create an environment combining exhibition visits with interactive programmes.
Around 200 companies, more than 30% in high-tech sectors
Around 200 Chinese companies have been selected to participate. Specialised, high-tech and innovative enterprises will account for more than 30% of the participants.
The exhibitors will include CAMCE, Yonyou Network and Focus Technology, alongside companies specialising in particular fields, such as Lanxin Robotics, Zhengzhou City Unites Steel Industrial Co., Ltd. and LAISAI.
Compared with the previous exhibition, the share of companies working in artificial intelligence, energy storage and cross-border e-commerce is expected to increase significantly.
Participants will present practices in technological innovation, green and low-carbon development, and digital transformation.
The organisers expect the exhibition to support the adoption of advanced technologies and the modernisation of industrial systems across Central Asia.
Investment forum, B2B meetings and regional presentations
The exhibition is designed as a comprehensive platform combining product displays, business negotiations, service presentations and technology exchange.
The programme includes the China–Uzbekistan Investment Cooperation Forum, specialised meetings on trade and economic cooperation, and business-to-business (B2B) negotiations between companies.
Separate presentations will be held by delegations from Shaanxi Province, the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region and other Chinese regions. The organisers expect these events to connect supply and demand and facilitate targeted negotiations in specific areas.
Reaching Central Asian markets: organisers’ expectations
The organisers expect the exhibition to provide Chinese companies with a channel to enter Central Asian markets, while giving businesses in Uzbekistan and other countries in the region an opportunity to learn about China and explore new avenues for cooperation.
In their assessment, the event will give fresh impetus to the development of trade and economic ties between China and Uzbekistan and help usher in a new “golden decade” of bilateral relations.