China and Uzbekistan should continue to firmly support each other, Chinese President Xi Jinping stressed on Tuesday.

Xi made the remarks when meeting with Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev, who is in Beijing to attend the third Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation.

Xi welcomed Mirziyoyev to attend the forum and recalled their meeting at the China-Central Asia Summit in the Chinese city of Xi'an in May.

Xi said he is delighted that the consensus reached by the two sides is being fully carried out.

As the Belt and Road Initiative marks its 10th anniversary, China stands ready to work with Uzbekistan to support each other's national modernization drive and build the China-Uzbekistan community with a shared future, Xi added.

China supports Uzbekistan in safeguarding its sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity and firmly opposes any external interference in Uzbekistan's internal affairs under any pretext, Xi stressed.

He urged both sides to implement medium and long-term cooperation plans on trade and investment, promote cooperation in key areas and create conditions for beginning the construction of the China-Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan railway as early as possible.

China is willing to expand cooperation in new energy and innovation, and import more high-quality products from Uzbekistan, said Xi.

He noted that China welcomes more young Uzbek people to study in China and urged both sides to speed up establishing cultural centers in each other's country and the construction of the Luban Workshop, an international project in vocational education.

Both sides should also strengthen exchanges and cooperation in poverty reduction, he added.

China is ready to work with the Uzbek side to implement the outcomes of the China-Central Asia Summit held in the Chinese city of Xi'an in May this year to help the six countries realize rejuvenation, said Xi.

(With input from Xinhua)

(Cover: Chinese President Xi Jinping holds talks with Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev in Beijing, China, October 17, 2023. /CMG)