Chinese President Xi Jinping said his latest meeting with Uzbek Prime Minister Abdulla Aripov shows a growth in ties.

During the meeting, President Xi said that developing the China-Uzbekistan comprehensive strategic partnership is in line with the fundamental interests of the two countries as well as their peoples.

Prime Minister Aripov said China is a reliable neighbor and partner of Uzbekistan. He said his country wants to promote its cooperation under the Belt and Road Initiative and in other areas like people-to-people exchanges.