Journal of Iran and Central Eurasian Studies, University of Tehran 

Areas of Iran-Uzbekistan Economic Cooperation in the Belt and Road Initiative Framework

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

• Elyor Makhmudov ¹ 

• Maryam Hasheminejad Ashrafi ²

¹ Tashkent State University of Oriental Studies

² Regional Studies, ECO College of Insurance, Allameh Tabatabai

Abstract

Despite the strategic situation of Uzbekistan and the geopolitical privilege of this country in Central Asia, and the geopolitical needs of Uzbekistan to Iran like access to the high seas, still the economic cooperation between these two is not at an acceptable level. With the introduction of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), China opened a new horizon for increasing trade relations in Central Asia, and consequently between Iran and Uzbekistan. These two countries that have sought to increase economic cooperation in recent years have welcomed this plan. Given the obstacles and opportunities available to increase this tripartite cooperation (Iran, Uzbekistan, China), we are investigating solutions to accelerate and increase this cooperation in the context of BRI. So, the gap we are going to fill in this article is identifying the existing obstacles in the Iran-Uzbekistan bilateral cooperation, then trying to look for solutions to reduce those obstacles and challenges facing these countries and opportunities for expanding their economic cooperation in the Belt and Road Initiative framework. Opportunities are recognized for the economic cooperation between China, Uzbekistan, and Iran include Solving transportation and tariff problems, Uzbekistan gaining access to open waters, booming tourism industry, circumventing sanctions against Iran, creating investment opportunities for the private sectors, replacing Iran and China with Russia for Uzbekistan as trade partners and making the Uzbek market more independent. The descriptive statistical method and secondary data collection are used for writing this paper.

https://jices.ut.ac.ir/article_86258.html