China and Uzbekistan issued a joint communique on Saturday,
pledging further efforts to strengthen bilateral relations and
cooperation in various fields.
Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao arrived Friday afternoon for a
two-day official visit to Uzbekistan at the invitation of Uzbek
Prime Minister Shavkat Mirziyaev.
During the visit, Chinese and Uzbek leaders had an in-depth
exchange of views on bilateral relations and regional and
international issues of common concern, and reached a broad
consensus, the communique said.
Pledging to adhere to the guidelines and principles set out in
the treaty on the friendly and cooperative partnership signed
between China and Uzbekistan on May 25, 2005, the two sides said
they would further enhance bilateral exchanges at various levels,
including high-level visits, and deepen pragmatic cooperation in
politics, economy, culture and security.
The two countries expressed their resolve to support each
other's policies and actions over such major issues as safeguarding
national independence, sovereignty and security, the communique
said.
Uzbekistan reaffirms its adherence to the one-China policy,
recognizing that the government of the People's Republic of China
is the sole legitimate government representing the whole of China
and that Taiwan is an inalienable part of China's territory.
Uzbekistan opposes "Taiwan independence" in any form, including
the "de jure independence" of Taiwan, and also opposes Taiwan's
membership in any international and regional organizations where
statehood is required, the document said.
Uzbekistan affirmed that it will not establish any form of
official ties nor have any official contacts with Taiwan and that
it supports all of the Chinese government's efforts to realize
national reunification. The Chinese side highly appreciates
Uzbekistan's position in this regard.
China reiterated its support to Uzbekistan and its leaders in
their efforts to safeguard national independence, sovereignty and
territorial integrity and uphold national dignity, and to maintain
domestic stability and develop its national economy. China opposes
any attempt to interfere in the internal affairs of Uzbekistan
under the guise of "human rights," the communique said.
The communique said the two countries will respect each other's
rights to choose their own paths of development. Neither country
will allow a third country to use its territory to engage in any
activities which would harm the other country's sovereignty,
security and territorial integrity, it said.
The two nations pledged continued efforts to work with other
Central Asian countries to maintain security and stability in the
region and promote common development and prosperity.
Both sides vowed to strengthen coordination and cooperation, in
accordance with the Shanghai Convention Against Terrorism,
Separatism and Extremism and the China-Uzbekistan Agreement on
Combating Terrorism, Separatism and Extremism, and continue to take
strong measures in their joint fight against the "three evil
forces" of terrorism, separatism and extremism.
Both sides agreed to expand cooperation in energy,
transportation, telecommunications, agriculture, chemical industry,
mining and infrastructure, and continue to explore new areas of
cooperation, the communique said.
They also agreed to restore and put into operation a road
connecting China, Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan, at an early date.
Both sides promised to increase cooperation in education,
science and technology, culture, health, sports and tourism, and
promote contacts and exchanges between youth and women's
organizations, as well as universities of the two countries. China
agreed to add Uzbekistan to the list of tourist destinations for
Chinese citizens, the communique said.
In efforts to strengthen the bilateral partnership and promote
all-round and mutually-beneficial cooperation, Premier Wen and
Prime Minister Mirziyaev have instructed relevant departments of
their respective countries to draft a five-year plan for
implementing the Sino-Uzbek treaty on the friendly and cooperative
partnership.
Both sides reiterated that the treaty signed by SCO (Shanghai
Cooperation Organization) members in Bishkek in August on long-term
good-neighborhood, friendship and cooperation has laid a solid
legal foundation for long-term, mutually-beneficial cooperation
among SCO member states.
They pledged serious efforts to implement the treaty along with
fellow SCO members, so as to deepen cooperation within the SCO in
the fields of security, economy and culture.
(Xinhua News Agency November 4, 2007)