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)