Chinese, Uzbek foreign ministers meet on bilateral relations

Visiting Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi held talks here Monday with his Uzbek counterpart, Abdulaziz Kamilov, on relations between their two countries and other major issues of common concern.

During the talks, Wang said China attaches importance to its relations with Uzbekistan, and has made the Central Asian country a priority in its neighborhood diplomacy.

China is willing to expand its strategic partnership with Uzbekistan, strengthen unity and mutual trust, and make positive contributions to regional peace and stability, Wang said.

Wang said that China stands ready to maintain high-level exchanges with Uzbekistan, and to further promote political relations between the two countries.

In addition, China is willing to work with Uzbekistan on the Belt and Road Initiative, and deepen cooperation in such fields as infrastructure, said Wang.

China supports Uzbekistan's efforts to host the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) summit in Tashkent, so as to turn the dual wheels of security cooperation and economic development moving in an effective and pragmatic way and further foster the growth of the organization, he said.

Speaking on the same occasion, Kamilov said bilateral relations have witnessed fast growth since the two countries established the strategic partnership.

The Uzbek side is willing to work with China to jointly upgrade their strategic partnership, maintain high-level exchanges and advance cooperation in trade and economy, investment, technology, security and people-to-people and cultural exchanges, said Kamilov, adding that Uzbekistan is ready to coordinate with China to push for important outcomes from the Tashkent summit. Endi