On the evening of November 1, 2019 local time, Premier Li Keqiang met with President Shavkat Mirziyoyev of Uzbekistan in Tashkent.
Li Keqiang first conveyed President Xi Jinping's warm greetings to President Shavkat Mirziyoyev. Li Keqiang said, since China and Uzbekistan established diplomatic relations, the two countries have respected and treated each other as equals and have been promoting healthy and stable development of bilateral relations. With vigorous implementation of reform and opening-up, the Uzbek side is experiencing booming economic and social development. China will further deepen its reform and open wider to the outside world, and China is willing to strengthen exchanges and mutual learning with the Uzbek side. The two-way opening-up between China and Uzbekistan and expansion of bilateral cooperation will create greater development opportunities for both sides to better achieve mutual benefit and win-win outcomes. A developing and prosperous Uzbekistan conforms to the common interests of China and regional countries.
Li Keqiang pointed out, the Belt and Road Initiative proposed by the Chinese side pursues extensive consultation, joint contribution and shared benefits, and China is willing to better align the Belt and Road Initiative with the Uzbek side's development strategy. China encourages more Chinese enterprises to invest and start business in Uzbekistan and welcomes Uzbek high-quality agricultural products to enter the Chinese market. The Chinese side is willing to deepen cooperation with the Uzbek side in such fields as production capacity, energy, transportation and e-commerce, and appreciates the Uzbek side's seven-day visa-free entry policy for Chinese citizens starting next year. The two sides will also increase direct flights, which will be conducive to expanding bilateral people-to-people exchanges. The Chinese side is ready to work with the Uzbek side to raise the level of security cooperation to create a favorable external environment for common development and regional stability.
Shavkat Mirziyoyev welcomed Premier Li Keqiang's official visit to Uzbekistan. He said Uzbekistan and China enjoy a long-lasting friendship, and the cooperation consensus reached by leaders of the two countries is bearing fruit. The Uzbek side firmly supports the One China policy and is ready to maintain high-level exchanges with the Chinese side to expand cooperation in such fields as trade, investment, production capacity and industry on the basis of mutual benefit and win-win cooperation. The Uzbek side is pushing forward its reform and opening-up, and is willing to learn from China's experience. More Chinese citizens are welcome to visit Uzbekistan, and Uzbekistan stands ready to continue to deepen bilateral cooperation in people-to-people and cultural exchanges.
Xiao Jie was present at the meeting.