China seals closer Uzbek ties, pushes railway route bypassing Russia
BEIJING (Reuters) -China on Wednesday upgraded its diplomatic ties with Uzbekistan and offered closer cooperation across a range of projects, including a Central Asia railway that would open up a new trade route as shippers shun an existing overland link via Russia.
The two countries have elevated their ties to an “all-weather comprehensive strategic partnership” from a “comprehensive strategic partnership” previously, China’s official news agency Xinhua reported, as Chinese President Xi Jinping met his Uzbek counterpart Shavkat Mirziyoyev in Beijing.
![](https://kbin.life/media/cache/resolve/entry_thumb/ff/3c/ff3cfc38bd01f490c74193463efea896262fddb8a3af635d414492c52e3be80e.jpg)