Premier Li Keqiang met with Uzbek Prime Minister Abdulla Aripov via video link in Beijing on June 8.

China and Uzbekistan are friendly neighbors and comprehensive strategic partners, Premier Li said. President Xi Jinping talked with President Shavkat Mirziyoyev not long ago, and the two heads of state made plans for the development of bilateral relations.

Since the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, China and Uzbekistan have been supporting and helping each other, making progress in pragmatic cooperation, which has played a positive role in promoting the economic recovery of the two countries, Premier Li said.

He also said China would like to maintain close high-level exchanges with Uzbekistan, enhance political mutual trust and deepen practical cooperation in various fields, pushing bilateral relations to a new level.

China is willing to continue joining hands with Uzbekistan to fight against the pandemic, aid Uzbekistan within its ability and give support to enterprises of the two countries in carrying out joint vaccine production based on the principle of mutual benefit.

He expressed the hope the two sides would deepen cooperation in various fields in accordance with market principles and business rules to better benefit the two peoples, and China is ready to facilitate customs clearance of Uzbekistan-featured agricultural products to China.

Noting next year will mark the 30th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties between China and Uzbekistan, Premier Li said the two sides should take it as an opportunity and hold various activities to strengthen cultural and people-to-people exchanges and enhance mutual understanding and traditional friendship between the two peoples.

China would like to strengthen coordination and cooperation with Uzbekistan within the framework of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) to provide more assistance to countries in the region in their post-pandemic recovery and help improving their people's livelihood.

Aripov said Uzbekistan and China are comprehensive strategic partners and retain good momentum of development in their relationship.

He thanked China for helping Uzbekistan in its fight against the pandemic and expressed hopes for strengthening anti-virus cooperation with China.

Uzbekistan will work with China to give full play to the role of the inter-governmental cooperation committee, to boost cooperation in fields such as trade, investment, energy and interconnectivity and bring Uzbekistan-China relations and cooperation to greater progress.

The Uzbek side is willing to enhance coordination with the Chinese side under the framework of the SCO, Aripov added.