The Belt and Road Initiative and Uzbekistan’s New Strategy of Development: Sustainability of mutual relevance and positive dynamics

Abstract

This text offers a brief evaluation of how dynamism of China- Uzbekistan bilateral relationship may be transformed to synergy necessary for the success of the BRI initiative. This will be done through three parts. First part briefly underlines overlap between New Strategy of Development of Uzbekistan and the BRI of China. The second part will highlight positive dynamics in ChinaUzbekistan relationship as well as features of the BRI as a solid basis for successful participation of Uzbekistan in the BRI. The final part will propose discussion of some caveats which should be addressed by parties to strengthen the involvement of Uzbekistan in the initiative further. This paper argues that current ambiguity around ultimate aims and form of the BRI constitutes both a challenge and opportunity to further involve Uzbekistan and other countries in the implementation of the initiative. Precisely, the presence of ambiguity creates room for generating dynamics of local ownership of the BRI by target countries. In its turn, the emergence of local ownership is widely seen as necessary for the realization of the Belt and Road project.