Chinese legislative leader visits Uzbekistan on boosting ties

TASHKENT -- Wang Chen, vice chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress (NPC) of China, visited Uzbekistan on May 17-20 to promote bilateral ties.

Invited by Oliy Majlis, the Uzbek parliament, Wang made the tour and held talks with President Shavkat Mirziyoyev and top parliament leaders. He also paid tribute to former Uzbek President Islam Karimov at his burial site.

In his meeting with Mirziyoyev, Wang congratulated him on the latter's just-concluded successful visit to China, and thanked him for attending the Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation on May 14-15 in Beijing, and for his contribution to the forum.

Wang said China-Uzbekistan relations have embarked on a new journey, adding that the common task of both countries is to implement the consensus reached by Chinese President Xi Jinping and Mirziyoyev in their first meeting, and the fruits of the forum.

He said the NPC is ready to enhance exchanges with the Uzbek parliament so as to contribute to the development of bilateral ties.

For his part, Mirziyoyev extended congratulations on the success of the forum held in Beijing, and spoke highly of his first meeting with Xi.

He said the Uzbek side has begun to implement the fruits of the meeting so as to achieve results as early as possible.

He also voiced his support for enhancing exchanges between the two countries' parliaments.