Adapting China’s Poverty Reduction Experience to Uzbekistan’s Conditions

The Center for Economic Research and Reforms (CERR) has initiated a phased adaptation of China’s poverty reduction model in line with the country’s institutional and socio-economic conditions. This work is based on the study “China Model” by Liu Junwen and Zou Dewen, covering 32 directions that were presented in Tashkent at the Multidimensional Poverty Peer Network (MPPN) meeting in August 2024.

China’s experience has become a benchmark for designing practical poverty reduction measures, which are already being implemented in Uzbekistan in 2025.

At the beginning of 2025, President Shavkat Mirziyoyev announced the introduction of new poverty reduction approaches across 32 directions, drawing on China’s experience. Based on its analysis, CERR developed specific recommendations that were incorporated into the Presidential Decree “On Measures to Ensure Employment and Reduce Poverty in 2025”.

Some approaches are already being implemented locally. The experience of Yingshan County, where the “Company – Cooperative – Farm” model was introduced, is being actively applied in Uzbekistan. Agricultural cooperatives are being established in which poor families lease land and create sustainable supply chains for agricultural products. Plans include establishing 492 cooperatives on leased lands, as well as providing subsidies of up to 10 basic minimum amounts for members to develop their farms and contribute to the cooperatives’ charter capital.

The asset income model, based on the experience of Shangang Village, aims to expand cooperation with poor households in areas such as fish farming, rabbit breeding, livestock, poultry, and beekeeping. Such projects are planned in 30 districts of Uzbekistan, engaging 4,000 households. These initiatives will be supported by entrepreneurial leaders to facilitate access to financing and integrate poor families into agricultural cooperatives.

Under the Fu Pin model, Uzbekistan has launched the development of specialized crop production on 20,000 hectares of forest land, involving more than 10,000 low-income families. The land is being leased based on the recommendations of the “mahalla seven” councils, nurseries are being established, and sustainable income sources are being provided.

Based on the experience of Wenchuan County in China, Uzbekistan is implementing a pilot project for cultivating and processing broussonetie. Within this project, 20 kg of seeds and 30,000 seedlings have been procured, and work has begun on establishing 100 hectares of plantations.

A model of ecological public welfare, similar to the one implemented in Sanjiangyuan National Park, is being developed. It envisages a subsidy system for poor families engaged in tree planting, using data from the “Eco-Active Citizen” platform. For every 100 trees planted, one basic minimum allowance will be granted. Land plots of one hectare will be leased to poor families for a period of 5–6 years.

The experience of Huamao Village is being used to promote tourism in 53 mahallas, creating employment for more than 1,300 people and aiming to attract 2.5 million tourists annually.

A project to build solar power plants in remote areas, modeled after Tianzhen, is also underway. Facilities with a total capacity of 107.8 MW are being constructed across 300 mahallas, providing not only energy stability but also new jobs.

Following the example of Lunnan, support for e-commerce is being introduced. Five thousand young people from low-income families are undergoing intensive IT courses with free internet access. E-commerce support centers are being set up at post offices, and cooperation with online marketplaces has been established.

Drawing on the experience of Luoshan County, Uzbekistan has opened vocational colleges in 28 districts with high poverty levels. These institutions offer free education for children from low-income families in entrepreneurship and professional skills, currently training more than 2,300 students. In the future, 165 employers are expected to provide internships and employment opportunities for graduates.

Additionally, following the example of Zibo City, Uzbekistan has launched a program to improve medical care for the poor. Under this initiative, medical services will soon be provided to 140,000 poor families, covering about 700,000 people. Including 1.5 million people in the national registry of low-income families will enable them to undergo medical examinations and receive individual health improvement plans. In rural areas, 10,000 additional home-based medical units will be established to serve 80,000 poor families. Free diagnostics and treatment will be provided as part of the state-guaranteed medical care program.

Conclusion

The adaptation of China’s poverty reduction experience in Uzbekistan is not mechanical; it takes into account local conditions and enables the design of more effective and sustainable solutions. The programs are supported at the level of state regulation, with continuous monitoring and evaluation of results.

Thus, the Chinese model is being adapted in line with Uzbekistan’s socio-economic, cultural, and institutional specifics. This represents a strategic policy in which international experience becomes a catalyst for local solutions aimed at reducing poverty and expanding opportunities for vulnerable groups.

The experience presented illustrates the close link between the analytical and research activities of the Center for Economic Research and Reforms (CERR) and the practical implementation of government reforms. The results of comprehensive studies, empirical analyses, and field assessments are systematically transformed into concrete policy measures and regulatory documents. In this way, CERR functions as a full-fledged think tank, providing a sustainable platform at the intersection of data, expertise, and inter-agency dialogue for developing and implementing strategic initiatives.

Examples of adapting China’s experience clearly demonstrate how high-quality analytics and international practices can be institutionalized and embedded into the national reform agenda. This strengthens the potential for developing sustainable and inclusive approaches to economic growth and social policy.

CERR Public Relations Sector