Premier Li meets Uzbek president

Premier Li Keqiang underlined the importance of bolstering the level of security cooperation with Uzbekistan during a meeting with Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev in Tashkent on Friday.

A higher level of bilateral security cooperation will create a good environment for common development and the stability of the region, said the premier, who is making his first official visit to the Central Asian country.

During the meeting, Li urged greater synergy between the Belt and Road Initiative and the development strategy of Uzbekistan, saying that China is ready to bolster bilateral cooperation in areas including production capacity, energy, transportation and e-commerce.

He also voiced China's appreciation for Uzbekistan's seven-day visa-free policy to Chinese citizens, set to be implemented next year.

The two nations have always respected each other and treated each other as equals since the establishment of diplomatic relations, which has enabled the healthy and stable development of bilateral ties, he said.

He noted that both China and Uzbekistan are pushing forward reform and opening-up, and the two nations should enhance exchanges and mutual learning.

The two-way opening-up and expanded cooperation between the two nations will create more development opportunities and enable win-win outcomes, he said.

Mirziyoyev said Uzbekistan adheres firmly to the one-China policy and is willing to maintain high-level exchanges with China.

He also called upon efforts to expand cooperation in trade, investment, production capacity and industries on the basis of mutual benefits and win-win cooperation.

Uzbekistan is ready to borrow China's experience as it moves forward with reform and opening-up, he said.