China is reliable partner for Uzbekistan - President Karimov
TASHKENT. Nov 29 (Interfax) - Uzbek President Islam Karimov met with visiting Chinese Prime Minister Li Keqiang in Tashkent on Thursday, Karimov's press service said.
"During the meeting, the sides exchanged opinions on key topics on the Uzbek-Chinese agenda," the press service said.
Karimov described Li's first trip to Uzbekistan as China's prime minister as a logical follow-up to a visit in September by Chinese President Xi Jinping, the results of which "helped bolster and promote cooperation between the two states and gave a fresh powerful impetus to the step-by-step development of the two countries' strategic partnership."
"For Uzbekistan, China is a reliable and responsible partner. The mutually beneficial and long-term dialogue with it has been built upon the solid foundation of mutual trust and respect for each other's long-term interests," the Uzbek leader said.
The sides agreed during the meeting that bilateral cooperation has been developing gradually in almost all areas, including politics, trade, the economy, investments, cultural and humanitarian affairs.
An Uzbek-Chinese business forum, which was held in Tashkent on November 27, reaffirmed the two countries' strong commitment to further broadening their mutually beneficial ties and establishing new joint ventures, primarily those that would specialize in high technologies.
Statistical reports put the volume of bilateral trade between Uzbekistan and China at over $3.5 billion in January-September 2013, which is higher than the results for the whole of 2012.
Up to 488 Uzbek-Chinese joint ventures operate in Uzbekistan.
China has invested $6.75 billion in projects on Uzbek territory since 2002.
The program for November 29 includes talks between Uzbek and Chinese government officials and the signing of bilateral documents intended to further promote cooperation between the two countries.
The Chinese prime minister will also attend a session of the Heads of Government Council of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization in Tashkent on Friday.
