China, Uzbekistan strengthen ties as Uzbek president visits

Chinese President Xi Jinping (L) and Uzbekistan's President Islam Karimov review the guard of honour during a welcoming ceremony prior to their talks in Beijing, capital of China, Aug 19, 2014. (Xinhua/Huang Jingwen)

Chinese President Xi Jinping and his Uzbek counterpart Islam Karimov agreed in Beijing on Tuesday to cement their bilateral strategic partnership featuring mutual benefits, common security and win-win cooperation.

In two hours of talks at the Great Hall of the People, the two presidents approved a development plan for China-Uzbekistan partnership for the next five years.

Xi called on both sides to expand trade and investment, and boost cooperation in such areas as energy, finance, agriculture and transport infrastructure building.

The two presidents agreed to give priority to building line-D of China-Central Asia natural gas pipeline, and speed up a railway project linking China, Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan.

They also agreed on cultural exchanges and cooperation in security and law enforcement.

Karimov recalled Xi's visit to Uzbekistan last September. He spoke highly of China's development and its constructive role in global affairs.

Uzbekistan is committed to a closer partnership with China which meets fundamental interests of both countries and peoples and helps regional peace and development, he said.

Karimov appreciated China's policies in developing friendship and win-win cooperation with Central Asian countries, vowing to back China's proposals on the Silk Road economic belt and the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank.

The two presidents reached consensus to strengthen coordination in the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) and promote more substantial results in SCO economic and security cooperation.

After their talks, they witnessed the signing of deals worth over 6 billion US dollars, ranging from trade, loan to the construction of natural gas pipelines and treatment plants.

In a joint declaration, Uzbekistan agreed to adhere to the one-China policy and oppose the so-called "Taiwan independence" in any form.

Both countries pledged to cement cooperation in such areas as energy, mining, transportation, education, tourism and security.

Invited by Xi, Karimov is on a two-day state visit to China from Tuesday to Wednesday. It is his second China trip this year following his visit to Shanghai for the 2014 Summit of the Conference on Interaction and Confidence-Building Measures in Asia.