Uzbek President receives Chinese official
01/11/2013 14:29
Uzbek President receives Chinese official
01/11/2013 14:29
Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) -- President of the Republic of Uzbekistan Islam Karimov at the Oqsaroy on October 31 met with Meng Jianzhu, Cochairman of the Uzbek-Chinese Intergovernmental Committee for Cooperation, member of the Central Politburo of the Communist Party of China.
The head of our state noted at the start of the conversation that currently the equally advantageous Uzbek-Chinese relations, built on the principles of strategic partnership, friendship, parity and mutual respect, have been dynamically advancing across all dimensions of cooperation.
The highest level of relations reached by both sides was underlined time and again during the state visit of Uzbekistan’s President Islam Karimov to China in June 2012 and China’s President Xi Jinping to Uzbekistan in September of the current year. The two visits produced agreements and deals on 50 joint projects for a total sum exceeding 20 billion US dollars, laying a reliable foundation for the further expansion of economic cooperation.
It was stressed during the meeting that the further realization of documents penned and agreements reached, the preservation and maintenance of the potent impetus afforded by the leaders of our two nations to the evolution of bilateral relations are the principal aspects of activities of the Uzbek-Chinese Intergovernmental Committee for Cooperation.
Steadfast has been the growth in the volumes of mutual trade, which for the last two years has multiplied almost twofold. Uzbekistan supplies the Chinese market with cotton fiber, mineral fertilizers, natural gas, nonferrous materials and other strategic goods. Along with these, measures are being taken to further diversify and expand the range of mutual trade as part of the Program of Cooperation in non-commodity and high technology spheres.
One of the priority directions is the interaction in power industry, a bright example of which has become the implementation of the major regional project – the construction of the Uzbekistan-China gas pipeline. Currently, the first two lines of the pipe are commissioned and successfully operating, while the third line is projected to be laid next year, opening the way hence for the construction of the fourth one.
Investment cooperation has also experienced dynamic advancement. China is currently one of the leading investors into the Uzbek economy. The volume of such inflows from the PRC has exceeded 6.5 billion dollars. Today, 488 enterprises with the involvement of Chinese investors are operating in Uzbekistan, and major companies run their representative offices in our country.
Companies from the People’s Republic carry out prospecting of oil and gas deposits on promising blocks in Uzbekistan, and they take part in the execution of crucial investment schemes, including construction of the second line at the Kungrad Soda Plant, the Dehkanabad Potash Fertilizer Mill (2nd phase) and other major facilities. The Chinese side has – with a sense of responsibility – been approaching the realization of major new projects, notably the construction of Mubarek Gas and Chemical Complex, a complex for the production of polyvinylchloride, caustic soda and methanol at the Navoiazot stock company, along with a new power block with a capacity of 150 megawatt at the Angren Heat Power Station and other projects.
A particular significance is attached to the Jizzakh Special Industrial Zone created this year, where the Chinese investors are provided with an encouraging environment that includes preferences. The production of mobile phones, modern construction materials and other high technology goods, including for exports, has already been launched at Jizzakh SIZ. Companies from the PRC have begun implementing 14 agreements on the establishment of new production lines with direct investments from China totaling 30 million dollars.
An important aspect of bilateral cooperation is the financial support provided for the materialization of joint investment projects that includes those through China’s Bank of Development and Eximbank.
As part of the session of the Uzbek-Chinese Intergovernmental Committee for Cooperation and the separate meetings in seven subcommittees, solid proposals were worked out to further enhance the trade-economic and investment interaction, cultural-humanitarian and scientific-technical cooperation, as well as in spheres of transportation, agriculture, tourism and financial cooperation.
During the current meeting at the Oqsaroy, the two sides deliberated also on issues pertinent to the consolidation of interaction in addressing regional security.
Meng Jianzhu expressed sincere gratitude to President Islam Karimov for a warm welcome and the opportunity to discuss priority courses of the enhancing cooperation between our two countries.
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