Chinese President Hu Jintao (R) meets with Uzbek President Islam Karimov in Beijing, China, Aug. 9, 2008. Islam Karimov attended the opening ceremony of the Beijing Olympic Games on Friday night. [Xinhua]

Meeting with the Uzbek president, Hu pledged that China will continue to provide assistance for Uzbekistan's economic and social development, and will deepen bilateral cooperation.

The two countries have scored remarkable achievements in their security cooperation, and the Chinese side wants to further enhance such cooperation, said Hu.

President Karimov said the Uzbek people will never forget the support and assistance from the Chinese people, and his country hopes to expand concrete cooperation with China in various fields.

He reaffirmed Uzbekistan's support for China's efforts to safeguard national sovereignty and territorial integrity, saying that his country will continue to cooperate with China in combating the "three evil forces" (of terrorism, separatism and extremism).

Chinese President Hu Jintao (R) shakes hands with Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd during their meeting in Beijing, China, Aug. 9, 2008. Kevin Rudd attended the opening ceremony of the Beijing Olympic Games on Friday night. [Xinhua]

While meeting with the Australian prime minister, Hu said that the development of Sino-Australian relations has maintained a good momentum and is showing a promising future.

Faced with a complex and changing global financial situation and soaring petroleum and grain prices, China and Australia should join hands to cope with the global challenges, Hu said.

"We'd like to work together with Australia to deepen our practical cooperation in extensive fields, steadily promote the negotiations on bilateral free trade agreement, and push forward our comprehensive cooperation based on mutual benefits," he added.

Rudd said Australia hopes to strengthen practical cooperation with China, and will unswervingly adhere to the one-China principle.

(Xinhua News Agency August 10, 2008)