国内英语资讯:Interview: Chinas BRI creates tremendous opportunities for cooperation, expert says_时事

国内英语资讯:Interview: Chinas BRI creates tremendous opportunities for cooperation, expert says

Matyakubov said he supports the idea of creating a think tank, or center, within the framework of the BRI.

"Currently there are various -- alarming, skeptical and optimistic -- opinions about the initiative. This center would summarize these opinions, (and) develop scientific foundations of strategic directions in the implementation of the global Belt and Road project."

China will host the second Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation next month in Beijing, and it "will play a very important role and serve as a kind of platform for improving and developing ties between the countries," Matyakubov said.

"I think that there are no serious problems or obstacles in further developing the relationship in this direction."

Trade volume between China and Uzbekistan increased 53.6 percent year on year to 1.18 billion dollars in the first two months of 2019, accounting for 18.4 percent of Uzbekistan's foreign trade, official figures showed.

Uzbekistan has always been and will always be a friendly and reliable partner of China -- this is for certain, Matyakubov said.

"I have witnessed so many bright historical moments of the manifestation of the friendship between Uzbekistan and China," he said, adding that the most memorable one was the opening of the Confucius Institute at the Samarkand State Institute of Foreign Languages in 2017.

"We know that the main goal of the institute is to teach Chinese language. But the institute also contributes to a better understanding of Chinese culture, customs and traditions, and to friendly relations between our states and peoples," the expert said.