Xi Jinping Meets with Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev

On the afternoon of February 5, 2022, President Xi Jinping met with Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev, who was on a visit to China to attend the opening ceremony of the Olympic Winter Games Beijing 2022, at the Great Hall of the People.

Xi Jinping pointed out, since the establishment of diplomatic ties between China and Uzbekistan 30 years ago, both sides have stayed committed to treating each other as equals, respecting each other and seeking mutual benefit and win-win outcomes, continuously deepened political mutual trust, and promoted mutually beneficial cooperation, thus elevating bilateral relations continuously to new levels. China and Uzbekistan have similar development goals and common ideas, with much governance and administration of state affairs in common. China always firmly supports Uzbekistan in safeguarding national sovereignty, independence and security, and is a faithful and reliable friend and partner of Uzbekistan. On the paths of national development and revitalization, China is willing to stand together with Uzbekistan and render mutual support. Both sides should seize opportunities to constantly consolidate and strengthen China-Uzbekistan comprehensive cooperation, so as to better benefit the two peoples.

Xi Jinping stressed, both China and Uzbekistan should properly implement the plan of cooperation on economic, trade and investment, select and deliver on a batch of large cooperation projects with strategic significance at an early date, and enlarge the volume and scale of bilateral cooperation. China is willing to help Uzbekistan build a modern industrial system, speed up the feasibility study of the China-Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan railway, and strive for an early start of the project. The two sides should strengthen cooperation in the areas of natural gas and renewable energy, and build a new pattern of multi-dimensional energy cooperation. The anti-pandemic cooperation between China and Uzbekistan has become an all-round cooperation pattern featuring research and development of COVID-19 vaccines and specific medicines, as well as the transformation of achievements. Both sides can continue to strengthen cooperation in this regard. China is willing to cooperate with Uzbekistan in poverty reduction, so as to promote rural revitalization in both countries. The two sides should comprehensively deepen security cooperation. China supports Uzbekistan's work during its rotating chairmanship of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO), and stands ready to strengthen communication and cooperation with Uzbekistan, jointly defend true multilateralism, safeguard the legitimate rights and interests of developing countries, and make greater contributions to promoting regional security, stability, development and prosperity.

Mirziyoyev said, I am very glad to have a long-awaited meeting with President Xi Jinping. Under the wise and strong leadership of President Xi Jinping, China held grand celebrations for the centenary of the founding of the Communist Party of China and won a decisive victory in poverty alleviation last year. Last night, China successfully held the opening ceremony of the Olympic Winter Games Beijing 2022, demonstrating China's brilliant achievements in development and great contributions to promoting world peace and development. China has become an example of staying committed to building an advanced, democratic and modern country. Uzbekistan and China enjoy brotherly profound mutual trust. Since the establishment of diplomatic ties 30 years ago, the two sides have developed relations in the spirit of mutual equality, mutual respect, good neighborliness and friendship, and mutual benefit and win-win results. Bilateral relations have become increasingly mature and stable, and bilateral trade has increased by more than 140 times, which has greatly promoted Uzbekistan's economic development. I would like to thank China for supporting Uzbekistan in safeguarding independence, sovereignty, development and reform, providing selfless and valuable assistance for Uzbekistan in the difficult time of fighting the pandemic, and establishing Central Asia's first vaccine production center in Uzbekistan. Uzbekistan firmly pursues the one-China principle, and firmly supports China in safeguarding its own core interests such as sovereignty and security. Uzbekistan is willing to learn from China's experience in poverty reduction, work with China to promote high-quality Belt and Road cooperation, actively promote the China-Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan railway and other important cooperation projects, and communicate and cooperate closely in the SCO and other regional cooperation frameworks.

Ding Xuexiang, Yang Jiechi, Wang Yi, He Lifeng and others were present at the meeting.