People enjoy floral displays at the square of the National Library of Uzbekistan in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, May 1, 2025. A flower festival is held in Tashkent on Thursday, attracting many local visitors. Photo: Xinhua

Leveraging a new visa-free policy enacted on June 1, Uzbekistan intends to attract one million Chinese tourists in the medium term, Laziz Kudratov, Uzbekistan's minister of investment, industry and trade, told the Global Times in an emailed response on Monday.

"We are already establishing ourselves as a primary destination for tourists from around the world, and Chinese tourism is a useful index of this industry's recent growth. In 2024, we recorded a 75-percent-increase in the number of Chinese tourists visiting Uzbekistan," Kudratov said.

The remarks came as the second China-Central Asia Summit takes place in Astana, Kazakhstan, from June 16 to 18. 

Analysts expect the summit to inject fresh momentum into China and Central Asia cooperation and to have a positive impact on regional economic development.

Data from online travel agency Ctrip.com showed that year-to-date, the number of bookings by Chinese visitors to Central Asian nations have increased by 74 percent year-on-year, according a report published on the people.com.cn on Monday. Travel bookings for Uzbekistan soared by 60 percent year-on-year, the report said.

A mutual visa-free policy between Uzbekistan and China took effect on June 1, allowing citizens of both countries to travel for up to 30 days without a visa.

Moreover, major infrastructure developments have brought us closer to realizing this goal, according to Kudratov. "For example, in 2024 we welcomed the first regular flight from Xi'an in Northwest China's Shaanxi Province (operated by Loong Air) at Samarkand International Airport."

"The explosive growth in tourism between China and Uzbekistan also highlights a crucial element of our bilateral relations: Uzbeks and Chinese understand that our countries' histories are inextricably linked," said the Uzbek minister. 

"No history of Uzbekistan is complete without the story of Chinese silk exports and the cultural and intellectual heritage we share with China. I hope the Chinese also feel this kinship," Kudratov said.

Several Chinese cities, including Hangzhou in East China's Zhejiang Province, Guangzhou in South China's Guangdong Province and Sanya in South China's Hainan Province have launched direct air routes to link with Uzbek cities since 2024, according to media reports.