From 30 December 2025 to 10 January 2026, Odil Gafarov, Deputy Director of IAIS, paid a working visit toChina. During the visit, a series of meetings and expert consultations were held with representatives of leading Chinese academic, analytical, and media institutions. Discussions focused on current trends in international relations, regional dynamics in East and Central Asia, the development of the “China–Central Asia” format, as well as prospects for expanding expert and academic cooperation between Uzbekistan and China.

In particular, meetings were held with Fu Jun, Dean of the National School of Development and the School of Government; Shi Yue, Director of the Center for Central Asian Studies at Peking University; Li Bo, President of Guancha.com, Executive Director of the Shanghai Chunqiu Institute for Development and Strategic Studies, and Assistant Dean at the China Institute of Fudan University; Tang Xiaoyang, Chair of the Department of International Relations at Tsinghua University; Ding Yifan, Professor at the Institute of World Development of the Development Research Center of China’s State Council; Zha Daojiong, Academic Director of the Institute of South-South Cooperation and Development at Peking University; Jin Canrong, former Vice Dean of the School of International Relations at Renmin University of China; Zhao Hai, Senior Fellow of the Institute of World Economics and Politics at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences and Director of International Political Studies at the National Institute for Global Strategy; Wang Guan, Senior Host and Chief International Affairs Journalist at CGTN; and Tang Shiqi, Dean of the School of International Studies at Peking University.

The meetings provided an opportunity to exchange views on the development of academic research, expert analysis, and public diplomacy, as well as to discuss potential formats for further cooperation, including joint events, expert dialogues, and research initiatives.

At the conclusion of the visit, the parties reaffirmed their mutual interest in maintaining regular professional dialogue and expanding contacts between IAIS, the University of World Economy and Diplomacy, and leading research and analytical institutions of the People’s Republic of China.