China, Uzbekistan pledge to deepen cooperation

China and Uzbekistan agreed on Tuesday to further their pragmatic cooperation in the areas of trade, investment transportation and agriculture.

The pledge was made during a meeting between visiting Chinese Vice Premier Hui Liangyu and Uzbek First Deputy Prime Minister Rustam Azimov.

Bilateral relations had entered a new phase since the two sides forged a strategic partnership in June during a visit by Uzbek President Islam Karimov to China, Hui said.

Bilateral cooperation had been advanced in an all-round manner in recent years, he said, voicing hope the two countries could work together to enrich their strategic partnership.

To achieve this, he suggested the two countries push forward economic and trade cooperation by improving investment environment.

Hui also called on both sides to press ahead with transportation cooperation and tap the potential of their agricultural cooperation in the areas of soil improvement, water-saving and irrigation, cotton plantations, machinery and personnel training.

Azimov said the two countries shared consistent stands on many international and regional issues and lent support to each other.

Bilateral economic and trade cooperation had broad prospects, he said, adding his country wished to carry out close cooperation with China in finance, high technology, transportation, agriculture and culture.

Uzbekistan is the last leg of Hui's multi-nation trip, which has also taken him to Ethiopia, the Republic of Congo, Tanzania and Kyrgyzstan.