Uzbek President Islam Karimov on Friday met with visiting Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi, with both sides pledging to step up pragmatic cooperation between the two nations.

Uzbekistan has always regarded China as a reliable friend and important partner, Karimov said during their meeting at the Presidential Palace in Tashkent, the capital of Uzbekistan.

Uzbekistan attaches great importance to developing long-term and stable relations with China, the president said.

Uzbekistan is willing to expand trade and boost cooperation with China in such areas as energy, non-resources and high and new technology, he said.

Uzbekistan is also ready to accelerate the implementation of cooperation projects on telecommunication and infrastructure construction, he added.

Yang said that China highly values its relations of friendly cooperation and partnership with Uzbekistan.

He said that the two countries should strengthen political mutual trust, continue to deepen mutually beneficial cooperation in various fields, and fully bring into play their economic complements.

Yang also met with Foreign Minister Vladimir Norov on Friday.

Yang, who arrived here Thursday, is on an official visit to Uzbekistan. He attended a Council of Foreign Ministers meeting of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization earlier Saturday.