China, Uzbekistan elevate ties as Xi meets Mirziyoyev in Beijing

China and Uzbekistan upgraded their relations to an all-weather comprehensive strategic partnership for a new era during talks between Chinese President Xi Jinping and his Uzbek counterpart Shavkat Mirziyoyev on Wednesday.

"Both sides should take the opportunity of developing the all-weather comprehensive strategic partnership for a new era to build a solid foundation for the China-Uzbekistan community with a shared future through high-level political mutual trust and advance the two countries' modernization undertakings through high-quality Belt and Road cooperation," Xi told Mirziyoyev, who is in Beijing on a state visit to China.

Xi said China supports Uzbekistan in safeguarding its national sovereignty, independence, and territorial integrity and choosing its own development path.

The two countries should make good use of platforms such as the intergovernmental cooperation committee to strengthen strategic communication and comprehensively deepen strategic mutual trust, said the Chinese president.

He also said China and Uzbekistan should tap the potential of traditional cooperation, implement medium- and long-term cooperation plans in the economy, trade and investment, introduce more facilitation measures and boost cooperation in infrastructure, agricultural high-tech park construction and other areas.

China is willing to expand cooperation with Uzbekistan across the entire industry chain of new energy vehicles, carry out cooperation in major projects such as photovoltaics, wind power and hydropower to support Uzbekistan's green economic development strategy and promote sustainable development, Xi said.

He added that China is ready to strengthen coordination and cooperation with Uzbekistan to promote unity and cooperation among all parties, safeguard the correct development direction of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, implement the outcomes of the China-Central Asia Summit in Xi'an and improve the China-Central Asia mechanism so as to promote global and regional governance and promote the building of a community with a shared future for mankind.

For his part, Mirziyoyev said it is of great symbolic significance that he has chosen China for his first overseas visit in 2024.

He expressed hope to take the visit as an opportunity to further consolidate and deepen mutual trust and expand all-round cooperation with the Chinese side.

Uzbekistan is committed to the one-China principle, opposes external interference in China's internal affairs, and is ready to support China on Taiwan, Xinjiang, human rights and other issues involving China's core interests, he said.

The central Asian country is ready to work with China to fight against the "three evil forces" of terrorism, separatism and extremism to safeguard its own and regional security, said Mirziyoyev.

He added that Uzbekistan supports the global initiatives proposed by Xi and is willing to work with China to implement them. He also expressed full confidence in the prospects of Uzbekistan-China relations.

Following their talks, the two heads of state signed and issued a joint statement between China and Uzbekistan on the all-weather comprehensive strategic partnership for a new era.

They also witnessed the signing of a series of documents concerning the Belt and Road cooperation, economic and technological cooperation, connectivity, environmental protection, new energy, science and culture.