Yang said that China and Uzbekistan enjoy a sound development momentum of bilateral relations since they established diplomatic ties 18 years ago. During his visit to Uzbekistan, President Hu held talks with President Karimov to share opinions on the bilateral relation and issues of common concern. He also proposed six suggestions on enhancing China-Uzbekistan relations: maintain high-level exchanges and increase mutual trust; complement each other with advantages and push forward energy cooperation; conduct cooperation in the non-resource and new- and high-tech areas and build long-term trade partnership; deepen security cooperation and fight the "three forces"; strengthen cultural exchanges and consolidate the foundation of friendship; cement multilateral coordination and protect the common interest of both countries.

President Karimov thanked China for its years of selfless assistance and support, fully agreed on President Hu's opinion on Uzbekistan-China relations and important views on the development of bilateral ties which he believes point out the future direction of bilateral and multilateral cooperation. Uzbekistan expects to work with China to further expand bilateral relations, benefit the two peoples and promote peace and development in Central Asia.

During the visit, the two heads of state signed the joint statement on comprehensively deepening and developing the friendly and cooperative partnership, reiterated to maintain and develop the high-level and other levels of political dialogue, raise mutual understanding and trust and broaden pragmatic cooperation in all fields in the principle of long-term friendship, mutual respect, mutual trust, equality and mutual benefit. The two sides will continue to firmly support each other's efforts of maintaining national sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity, step up coordination and cooperation, take strong measures within the framework of the SCO to fight all forms of terrorism including the "East Turkistan" terrorists and safeguard peace and tranquility of their own and in the region as well. They also signed the bilateral cooperation agreements in the non-resource, new- and high-tech areas. They also signed the bilateral cooperation documents in the non-resource and new- and high-tech fields.

Yang said that China-Kazakhstan relations have grown rapidly and deeply in recent years. After his working visit to Kazakhstan in December last year, President Hu paid the state visit to the country once again, which marks a major event of China-Kazakhstan relations. During the visit, President Hu held talks with President Nazarbayev to share views on further developing China-Kazakhstan relations, deepening bilateral pragmatic cooperation and other international and regional issues of common concern. Hu pointed out that China attaches great importance to developing relations with Kazakhstan and takes it as one of its diplomatic priorities. China will continue to support the development path and internal and external policies taken by Kazakhstan according to its national conditions and support Kazakhstan in playing a bigger role in the international and regional affairs. He raised five suggestions on comprehensively developing China-Kazakhstan strategic partnership: strengthen high-level exchanges and enhance strategic mutual trust; expand pragmatic cooperation and increase convergence of interest; broaden cultural exchanges and improve traditional friendship; reinforce security cooperation and promote regional stability; push forward multilateral collaboration and maintain common interest.

President Nazarbayev noted that Kazakhstan attaches great importance to the relations with China and highly praised the long-term progress of bilateral relations since the two countries established diplomatic ties 18 years ago. Kazakhstan is willing to make joint efforts with China to strengthen bilateral cooperation in the fields of politics, economy, culture and security and coordination on major international and regional issues, maintain their common interest and peace and stability in Central Asia and lift the bilateral relations to a higher level.

China and Kazakhstan issued a joint communiqué reiterating that to further deepen bilateral strategic partnership is a priority of foreign policy of both countries and they will keep and strengthen high-level dialogue and deepen comprehensive cooperation, especially cooperating on fighting terrorism, separatism, extremism, cross-border organized crimes and drug trafficking in both bilateral and multilateral fields. They will broaden cooperation in the international and regional affairs and create a sound international environment for their development. They also signed a number of bilateral cooperation documents.

Yang finally said that the visit of President Hu reached the scheduled targets of consolidating solidarity and friendship, maintaining security and stability, deepening pragmatic cooperation, promoting common development and increasing the influence of the SCO. The Chinese side is willing to further deepen relations with Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan and join hands with the SCO member states to create a bright future with peace, cooperation and harmony for the SCO!

Source: www.fmprc.gov.cn