Chinese premier meets Uzbek president

BEIJING -- Chinese Premier Li Qiang met with visiting President of the Republic of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev on Wednesday in Beijing.

Li said that in recent years, China-Uzbekistan relations have achieved leapfrog development under the strategic guidance of the two heads of state, and cooperation in various fields has been strengthened comprehensively.

He stressed the need to follow through on the important common understanding reached between the two heads of state, consolidate solidarity and mutual trust, expand mutually beneficial cooperation, accelerate the construction of a China-Uzbekistan community with a shared future, and adhere to mutual understanding, mutual respect and mutual support.

Li said the two countries should support each other firmly on issues concerning each other's core interests, including national sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity.

Aiming for high-quality Belt and Road cooperation, China will work with Uzbekistan to expand and improve economic, trade and investment cooperation, push forward hard connectivity in infrastructure and soft connectivity in technology, norms and standards, tap the potential of green cooperation on new energy, and strengthen exchanges and cooperation on culture, education and tourism, Li added.

Mirziyoyev said Uzbekistan values its relations with China and appreciates China's support for Uzbekistan's efforts to safeguard its sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity.

Uzbekistan adheres unwaveringly to the one-China principle and firmly works with China to combat the "three forces" of terrorism, separatism and extremism, Mirziyoyev said.

Uzbekistan is willing to deepen bilateral cooperation on economy, trade, investment, agriculture, finance, production capacity, infrastructure construction, connectivity and people-to-people exchanges, Mirziyoyev said, adding that his country welcomes more Chinese enterprises to invest and do business in Uzbekistan, where a sound business environment will be provided.