Uzbekistan, Tashkent, Jan 7 /Trend D.Azizov/
President of Uzbekistan Islam Karimov on Friday received Deputy Chairman of the Standing Committee of National People's Congress Chen Zhili, who arrived in Tashkent as a special envoy of China's President Hu Jintao, the National News Agency of Uzbekistan reported.
During the meeting Karimov said that, Uzbekistan in its determination for development and prosperity since its independence always relied on the strong support of China, a close neighbor and a reliable partner.
Deputy Chairman of the NPC Standing Committee Chen Zhili congratulated the Chinese leadership on celebrated of the 20th anniversary of establishing diplomatic relations between Uzbekistan and China.
Zhili noted the willingness of China to exert all efforts for the dynamic development of multifaceted mutually beneficial relations with Uzbekistan, in the spirit of the Treaty on partnership relations of friendship and cooperation signed in May 2005, and principle agreements reached during the state visit of President Karimov to China in April 2011.
Uzbekistan and China on the basis of equality, mutual respect and trust, deepen and extend the long-term cooperation. Particularly, there is a high level of cooperation in political and diplomatic sphere, convergence of views on topical issues of international and regional plan. Uzbekistan and China are closely cooperating within the framework of the UN, SCO and other multilateral authoritative political organizations and financial institutions.
It was noted at the meeting that the steady growth of bilateral trade increased four times for over the past five years and reached about $2.2 billion in January-November 2011, according to the Uzbek side.
A steady growth and diversification of the trade range, investment increase, especially in high-priority industrial sectors, the exchange in cultural and scientific spheres is noticeably expanding as well.
Uzbekistan has more than 380 enterprises with Chinese investments, including 58 enterprises with one hundred percent of these investments. Sixty five representations of largest companies of China, opened in Uzbekistan contribute to strengthening economic and trade relations.
The sides exchanged views on further development of Uzbek-Chinese relations during the meeting, UzA reported.
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