The first China-Uzbekistan joint academic initiative with a focus on sustainable urbanism and architecture wrapped up in the Uzbek capital of Tashkent on Monday.

Organizers said the event represented a significant stride towards, not just fostering sustainable urbanism, but also underscored the roles of western China and Central Asia as pivotal regional exchange hubs.

The "Sustainable Urban and Architectural Development in the Context of Intercultural Dialogue" event, which ran from Dec 22 to 29, brought together scholars and students from Chongqing University in Southwest China and Tashkent University of Architecture and Civil Engineering.

Employing Chongqing University's expertise in architecture, urban planning and urban science to address Uzbekistan's pressing urban development needs, participants also discussed heritage conservation, urban form optimization and low-carbon architectural design.

Scholars from both universities explored urban development practices and technical approaches through lectures, field studies, case discussions and group workshops, while a group of 20 students from China and Uzbekistan examined, with the assistance of professors, China's recent urban advancements and the growth of Uzbek cities. The students' work in Tashkent includes the adaptive reuse of historic buildings, small-scale urban enhancements and climate-responsive architectural design, fostering collaborative urban development strategies between the two nations.

The winter workshop was part of a broader collaborative framework that began in 2019, when the two universities established a partnership. In 2023, Chongqing University launched the University Network for Research Collaboration: A Belt and Road Science and Technology Initiative, aimed at bolstering research cooperation, talent development and knowledge sharing among Belt and Road universities.

In August 2024, the China-Uzbekistan Joint Laboratory for Urban Science was established with support from Uzbekistan's housing and construction authorities. This initiative explores an integrated cooperation model linking technological research, standards development and talent training, aligning academic research with urban development needs.

Chongqing University has also assembled a multidisciplinary team of experts to provide systematic technical training to 35 young Uzbek scientists, nurturing a new generation of professionals. This collaboration culminated in the signing of a Strategic Cooperation Joint Action Plan in June, which aims to enhance joint talent training, collaborative research, and faculty and student exchanges.

The plan also seeks to expand interdisciplinary research in sustainable urban development, establishing a high-level international science and technology cooperation model that embodies the spirit of China-Central Asia cooperation.