Uzbekistan’s Achievement from Chinese Investment
The investment plans for developing and equipping the infrastructure of various countries that the Chinese have launched over the years have led to China’s extensive influence in these countries. By indebting these countries, the presence of suspicious law enforcement forces and not-so-reliable Chinese workers has raised additional concerns. In many countries, Chinese projects either did not reach completion or remained unfinished. China has limited these large projects, known as the One Belt One Road initiative, in recent years due to its economic growth slowdown. However, it cannot be denied that in many countries, various infrastructures have been equipped and strengthened with Chinese money, and their impact is clearly evident. Countries like Kenya are prime examples of gaining public favor and support with a few roads and railways, which, in any case, were facilities that people had long desired. The cooperation of Chinese investment to equip Uzbekistan with clean energy is one of the latest examples of achievements and positive impacts in this area. Uzbekistan has now completed its first phase of unveiling electricity production from clean sources for the people of this country, with a power plant generating 22 billion kilowatt-hours of electricity, which is set to be operational by the end of the current year. This amount of energy suffices for the consumption of less than one million Uzbek households. The $140 million investment in this project also involved collaboration with Huawei to provide both the capital and the necessary technology with essential hardware for the Uzbeks. This is the first phase of Uzbekistan’s significant plans to maximize energy production from clean sources and achieve maximum independence from energy imports. The Chinese have agreed to continue collaborating with the Uzbeks and to establish other power plants, such as hydroelectric plants.