BEIJING, August 7. /Dunyo IA/. Su Chang, a Leading Research Fellow at the Institute of Russia, Eastern Europe and Central Asia of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, extended her sincere congratulations and best wishes through Dunyo IA on the eve of the 35^th Anniversary of the State Independence of Uzbekistan:

- Recently, I visited the Free Trade Zone in the city of Termez on the border of Uzbekistan and Afghanistan, which houses a logistics center, a hospital built by Uzbekistan for the Afghan population, as well as a vocational training center for youth and other facilities. There are many retail outlets and cafes operating here and from the overall atmosphere, I could see that the zone is full of life. This confirms that Uzbekistan is making a key contribution to establishing peace in Afghanistan.

I witnessed the country's tremendous efforts to maintain internal stability. Termez, which borders Afghanistan, is completely secure. Many Afghan traders can move freely within the territory of the free trade zone. I am confident that in the future, Uzbekistan will play an even more significant role in ensuring peace and sustainable development in Afghanistan, as well as strengthening the security and stability of the entire Central Asian region.

Furthermore, I noted the remarkably rapid pace of rural development in Uzbekistan - the speed of transformation here is simply impressive, and achieving such a result was a highly challenging task.

In recent years, China-Uzbekistan relations have been developing comprehensively and swiftly across all areas. I am confident that even greater prospects will open up for bilateral cooperation in the future.

Under the leadership of President Shavkat Mirziyoyev, the country will continue to continuously prosper and serve as the most crucial cultural and economic center of Central Asia, fully realizing its potential.