China, Uzbekistan agree to enhance military cooperation

China would like to work with Uzbekistan to enhance their bilateral military cooperation, a visiting senior Chinese military official said here on Wednesday.

Chen Bingde, chief of the General Staff of the People's Liberation Army (PLA), made the remarks during a meeting with his Uzbek couterpart, V.Makhmudov.

China and Uzbekistan in recent years have seen robust growth in their bilateral friendly partnership for cooperation and smooth development in inter-military cooperation, Chen said.

The two armed forces, Chen said, have maintained high level contacts and cooperated in personnel training and academic education. They also have maintained defense and security cooperation under the framework of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO), Chen said.

China would like to advance its pragmatic cooperation with Uzbekistan and jointly lift inter-military cooperation to a higher level, he said.

The international community is currently undergoing the most complex and profound changes since the end of the Cold War, Chen said, adding that the Central Asian countries are facing a number of new challenges and threats.

He said it is significant for China and Uzbekistan to strengthen their coordination and cooperation, and to protect the fundamental interests of the two peoples and countries under such circumstances.

Makhmudov said China has been one of Uzbekistan's most important strategic partners, and Uzbekistan speaks highly of the development of bilateral ties.

He said Uzbekistan is willing to expand cooperation with China in various fields, including the military.

Uzbekistan will continue to adhere to the one-China policy on issues concerning Taiwan, Xinjiang and Tibet, Makhmudov said.

He added that Uzbekistan would like to deepen pragmatic cooperation between the two armed forces and contribute to the development of bilateral relations and regional stability.