Chinese, Uzbek foreign ministers hold second strategic dialogue

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi on Friday called on China and Uzbekistan to build bilateral relations into a new model of good neighborliness, solidarity and mutual trust between nations during his second strategic dialogue with Uzbekistan's Foreign Minister Bakhtiyor Saidov.

Wang, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, said that under the leadership of Chinese President Xi Jinping and Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev, China-Uzbekistan relations have flourished, bringing positive results to the peoples of both countries, adding that the two sides should make full use of the strategic dialogue to implement the important consensus reached by the two heads of state, steering the overall direction of bilateral relations and coordinating cooperation across various fields. 

Wang said that China has always regarded Uzbekistan as a priority in its neighborhood diplomacy and an important partner in its broader global diplomatic agenda, and China supports Uzbekistan in both pursuing a development path suited to its national conditions and the successful implementation of the "New Uzbekistan" strategy.

The Chinese foreign minister noted that the early realization of China's complete reunification is the shared aspiration of all Chinese people at home and abroad, and China appreciates Uzbekistan's firm commitment to the one-China principle.

No matter how the international and regional landscape may change, China will continue to strengthen solidarity and cooperation with Uzbekistan and move forward towards the noble goal of building a community with a shared future, he said.

Wang pointed out that China and Uzbekistan should follow the consensus reached by the two heads of state and remain committed to improving people's well-being, accelerating the alignment of development strategies, enhancing mutual support, and opening up a new future for the China-Uzbekistan all-weather comprehensive strategic partnership for a new era.

China has already become Uzbekistan's largest trading partner and a major source of investment, and it is believed that after Uzbekistan joins the World Trade Organization, bilateral economic and trade cooperation will embrace even greater development, said Wang.

He said China stands ready to work with Uzbekistan to develop the China-Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan railway as a landmark project, advance a diversified framework for connectivity, and strengthen cooperation in sectors such as green minerals, new energy and high technology, and enhance exchanges in education, culture, tourism and other fields to further strengthen the deep friendship between the two peoples.

China highly commends Uzbekistan for the remarkable achievements it has made in poverty reduction and stands ready to make full use of the China-Uzbekistan sub-committee on poverty reduction cooperation and the China-Central Asia poverty reduction cooperation center to continue sharing its experience in poverty alleviation and rural revitalization, said Wang.

He called on the two sides to make good use of the China-Uzbekistan law enforcement and security cooperation mechanism, strengthen joint efforts in combating the "three evil forces" and transnational organized crime and strengthen cooperation on counter-interference.

For his part, Saidov said that a true friend is like a brother. China is Uzbekistan's most valued strategic partner, and Uzbekistan is willing to always stand shoulder to shoulder with China. The two countries share similar world views, uphold a people-centered philosophy, and are both deepening reforms, he said, adding that the foreign ministers' strategic dialogue mechanism, established at the decision of the two heads of state, fully reflects the high level of the China-Uzbekistan all-weather comprehensive strategic partnership for a new era.

Uzbekistan is grateful for China's strong support in improving its people's livelihoods and reducing poverty and is willing to actively draw on China's successful experience in state governance, strengthen high-level exchanges, expand bilateral trade, deepen Belt and Road cooperation, advance the construction of the China-Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan railway, and broaden cooperation in emerging fields such as green development and high technology, while jointly combating the "three evil forces," he noted.

Uzbekistan firmly adheres to the one-China principle, opposes "Taiwan secessionist" activities and interference by external forces and supports China in achieving national reunification, said Saidov.

After the dialogue, the two sides issued a joint press release. Both sides pointed out that the China-Uzbekistan all-weather comprehensive strategic partnership for a new era has been continuously consolidated on the basis of mutual respect and taking into account each other's interests. The two sides will carry out closer cooperation to promote the building of a China-Uzbekistan community with a shared future.

The two sides emphasized that the positive momentum of mutual visits and exchanges at all levels between the two countries is conducive to further strengthening cooperation in bilateral and international affairs. Both sides reaffirmed their firm mutual support on issues concerning each other's core interests.

Both countries highly regarded the significant importance of jointly building the Belt and Road Initiative in strengthening international cooperation and promoting common security, development and prosperity.

Both sides pointed out with satisfaction that trade between the two countries has grown steadily, investment cooperation has been continuously deepened, and joint projects in fields such as industry, transportation and logistics, energy and agriculture have been actively advanced.

The two sides are willing to further enhance cooperation in the field of green minerals, especially in the green development of the entire industrial chain of mineral resources. Both sides will make joint efforts to strengthen cultural and people-to-people cooperation and promote friendly exchanges between people of the two countries.

Both sides will further enhance mutual support and cooperation within multilateral frameworks such as the United Nations, the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, the China-Central Asia mechanism, and the BRICS cooperation mechanism.

China and Uzbekistan welcomed the outcomes of the second strategic dialogue between the two countries' foreign ministers, believing that this mechanism has become a new platform for strengthening strategic coordination and all-round cooperation in priority areas between the two countries, which is conducive to promoting regional and international peace and further enhancing understanding and consolidating mutual trust.

(With input from Xinhua)