Uzbekistan is seeking to deepen cooperation with China in the tourism sector, the consul general of the Uzbek Embassy in Beijing said, as the two countries prepare to implement a mutual visa exemption agreement starting in June.

Speaking at an event held by the embassy to promote the Central Asian country's tourism potential, national cuisine and culture, Yakhyaev said that Uzbekistan has carried out large-scale reforms in the tourism sector in recent years, making tourism one of the factors contributing to the country's stable economic growth.

According to the Chinese Foreign Ministry, a mutual visa exemption agreement between Uzbekistan and China will take effect on June 1 this year.

Under this new agreement, citizens of Uzbekistan and China will be allowed to enter, exit, and transit through each other's territories without the need for a visa for up to 30 days per visit. The total stay within any 180-day-period must not exceed 90 days.

This arrangement simplifies travel for individuals seeking short-term visits to either country, facilitating tourism, business and family visits without the hassle of applying for a visa.

"Uzbekistan places special emphasis on strengthening cooperation with China in the tourism sector," Yakhyaev said.

He noted that last year, the 2024 Tourism Year of Uzbekistan was inaugurated in China to promote Uzbekistan's tourism potential in China and strengthen ties between representatives of the tourism industries of both countries.

According to Yakhyaev, Uzbekistan is also actively implementing the "Friendly China" initiative. Under this framework, airports, hotels, and restaurants will have Chinese-language menus, signs, and instructions.

There are Chinese-speaking staff at tourist centers, and Chinese payment platforms like UnionPay, WeChat Pay, and Alipay have also been introduced, he said.

Currently, there are 58 direct flights weekly between Uzbek cities of Tashkent, Samarkand, and Fergana and Chinese cities of Beijing, Urumqi, Xi'an, Chengdu, Hangzhou and Guangzhou.

Uzbekistan plans to increase the number of weekly flights to 100, and in the near future, the number of Chinese tourists visiting Uzbekistan is expected to reach 1 million, the consul general said.