OREANDA-NEWS. July 29, 2013. President of the Republic of Uzbekistan Islam Karimov met with Wang Yi, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the People’s Republic of China, at the Oqsaroy.

Greeting the guest cordially, the head of our state stressed that for Uzbekistan, China has been and will keep being a friendly country, cooperation with which is built on principles of mutual respect and confidence.

As it was noted during the talks, the relations between our two nations have been advancing steadily in the political, trade and economic, investment, transport and communications, cultural and humanitarian and other areas, as well as within the frameworks of prominent international and regional institutions like the United Nations and Shanghai Cooperation Organization.

The Joint Declaration on Strategic Partnership signed in 2012 during a summit meeting in Beijing has epitomized a high level of interaction between our two countries and afforded a potent impetus to the further enhancement of the Uzbek-Chinese comprehensive dialogue.

Last year, the bilateral trade turnover grew by nearly 25 percent in comparison to the previous year and reached 3.23 billion US dollars. The similar dynamics of consistent growth has been the case in the current year, as well.

The total volume of Chinese investments into the Uzbek economy has exceeded four billion dollars.

A range of leading Chinese companies is currently proceeding to the implementation of joint hi-tech projects in the Jizzakh Special Economic Zone, where an environment conducive for this endeavor has been created along with considerable tax and customs privileges.

During the talks, the two sides said that both countries attach a special significance to the intensification of cultural and humanitarian exchange.

The head of China’s foreign affairs ministry expressed gratitude to the President of Uzbekistan for a warm reception and the opportunity to discuss pressing issues on the bilateral agenda.

The parties to the meeting exchanged views on principal regional and international issues as well as other topics of shared interest.