From 8 to 12 September 2026, a delegation led by Dr. Wang Chunfeng, Executive Director of the Asia-Pacific Network for Sustainable Forest Management and Rehabilitation (APFNet), paid a visit to Uzbekistan. The visit aimed to advance preparations for the Fifth Meeting of Ministers Responsible for Forestry in Greater Central Asia (5th MMRF GCA), deepen bilateral cooperation in sustainable forest management, dryland forest restoration and desertification control, and support the implementation of practical cooperation projects in Greater Central Asia.

During the visit, the APFNet delegation held productive talks with Mr. Aziz Abdukhakimov, Advisor to the President of Uzbekistan and Chairman of the National Committee on Ecology and Climate Change, and Mr. Erkin Mukhitdinov, Director of the Agency for Forest and Greening Area Expansion and Desertification Control. The two sides focused on preparations for the 5th MMRF GCA, the alignment of Uzbekistan's national forestry strategy with APFNet's regional priorities, the implementation of dryland forest restoration demonstration projects in Uzbekistan, and the promotion of technical exchange and capacity-building cooperation.

APFNet Delegation Holds Talks with the National Committee on Ecology and Climate Change of Uzbekistan

The two sides reaffirmed their shared commitment to deepening practical cooperation and strengthening experience and technical exchanges in sustainable forest management and restoration in the context of climate response. The Uzbek side invited APFNet to participate in the Eco Expo Central Asia 2027, which will be held in June 2027 at the Central Asian International Exhibition Center in Tashkent, Uzbekistan. The expo will feature thematic zones on desertification control, landscape restoration, desert economy and eco-tourism, and will provide an important platform for both sides to showcase cooperation outcomes and expand regional green cooperation. The two sides agreed that the 5th MMRF GCA and Eco Expo Central Asia 2027 will be held concurrently, and made preliminary arrangements for coordinating the timing of the two events.

The delegation conducted field visits and assessments at several key ecological sites in Uzbekistan, including the China-Central Asia Ecology and Environment Research Center in Tashkent, the Central Asian University of Environmental and Climate Change Studies (Green University), the Tashkent State Arboretum, the Darhon National Forest Farm, and desertification control project areas in Bukhara Region, where the delegation learned about progress in sand fixation and land degradation control.

Visit to the Central Asian University of Environmental and Climate Change Studies

To support the technical assessment of potential project cooperation, experts from the Ningxia Forestry and Grassland Administration were invited to join the delegation to Uzbekistan. Drawing on China's extensive practical experience in large-scale desertification control, the Ningxia experts held in-depth exchanges with Uzbek technical personnel, providing important reference for the technical feasibility assessment of future cooperation projects.

Field Visit to Desertification Control Project in Bukhara Region

Through this visit, the two sides reached preliminary consensus on the preparatory plan for the 5th MMRF GCA, the establishment of a meeting working group, and cooperation in implementing demonstration projects.

Dr. Wang Chunfeng stated: "This visit has given us a clearer understanding of Uzbekistan's actual needs and current capacity. We look forward to translating the consensus reached during this visit into concrete actions soon". Both sides agreed that the visit enhanced mutual understanding and trust and laid a solid foundation for further cooperation.