China's Li Qiang urges deeper Uzbekistan ties in Central Asia influence push

Chinese Premier Li Qiang called for expanded cooperation with Uzbekistan in minerals, AI, energy, and finance, signaling Beijing's intensified competition with Washington for Central Asian influence. The move continues China's established pattern of economic engagement in the region, but the explicit emphasis on AI and strategic communication marks a notable broadening of scope. The visit underscores shifting great-power dynamics in Central Asia, though concrete outcomes remain unspecified.