TASHKENT, June 30 (Xinhua) -- The finals of the China International College Students' Innovation Competition (2026) Central Asia regional contest were held from Sunday to Monday in Tashkent, capital of Uzbekistan.
Since its launch in March, the competition has attracted 736 teams from 108 universities across the five Central Asian countries. A total of 35 projects from 19 universities advanced to the finals. Following on-site evaluation by experts, 15 projects, including those from Tashkent State University of Economics, won gold awards.
Sun Changdong, first secretary of the Chinese Embassy in Uzbekistan, said in his speech that he hoped youths would take the competition as a new starting point and continue to maintain enthusiasm for innovation, sincerity in cooperation and dedication to practical work, contributing their wisdom to building a China-Central Asia community with a shared future.
Ma Chuang, vice president of Northwest A&F University, said he expected students from China and Central Asia to actively engage in scientific and technological innovation and contribute to scientific and technological exchanges between China and Central Asian countries, as well as to scientific progress.
Oblomuradov Narzullo, rector of the Tashkent State Agrarian University, said the competition is not only a contest of skills and wisdom, but also an important bridge for strengthening friendship among young people.
He said the event provides young talents with an opportunity to innovate together, and expressed his hope that the competition could become a regular mechanism to continuously rally the strength of youth and enhance regional common development. ■