FM calls for stronger ties on Uzbekistan trip

China encourages more Chinese enterprises to invest in Uzbekistan and is willing to expand the import of high-quality products from the country, State Councilor and Foreign Minister Qin Gang said on Wednesday.

China would like to strengthen synergy of the joint construction of the Belt and Road with Uzbekistan, and deepen bilateral practical cooperation to achieve mutual complementarity and common development, Qin said in a talk with Uzbekistan's acting foreign minister Bakhtiyor Saidov when visiting the country.

China will work with Uzbekistan to step up cooperation and operation on railway and highway projects, including the China-Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan railway project and, the China-Tajikistan-Uzbekistan highway project, Qin said.

More direct flight routes are expected to open to facilitate personnel exchanges, he added.

Saidov said that Uzbekistan will continue to fully support and actively participate in the BRI, build the China-Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan Railway into a benchmark project, and strengthen the connectivity of Eurasia.

Uzbekistan welcomes Chinese new energy vehicles to enter its market and is satisfied with the intelligence and comfort of new energy buses made in China, he said, adding that he looks forward to expanding innovation and high technology cooperation with China.

Uzbekistan is purchasing 2,000 new energy buses from China to improve public transportation services in the country's capital city as well as other major cities, and the first batch of 350 vehicles has arrived in Tashkent.

During a meeting with President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev, Qin said that the two countries should implement a five-year plan for economic, trade and investment cooperation.

He welcomed Mirziyoyev to China to attend the China-Central Asia Summit and the third Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation.

He also called for the two countries to enhance cooperation on poverty reduction, expand energy cooperation, and encourage local and people-to-people communication and cooperation.

Noting the fourth foreign ministers' meeting among the neighboring countries of Afghanistan will be held in the country, Qin said that China appreciated preparation efforts made by Uzbekistan and will work with the country to promote a successful meeting.