Chinese, Uzbek PMs vow to enhance security co-op

TASHKENT - Chinese Premier Li Keqiang and his Uzbek counterpart Shavkat Mirziyaev agreed here Friday to enhance security cooperation between their countries to safeguard peace and stability.

China is willing to deepen cooperation with Uzbekistan in law enforcement and defense, and to set up a security mechanism for major cooperation projects at an early date, Li said when meeting Mirziyaev.

Li is currently in the Uzbek capital for the 12th prime ministers' meeting of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization member states, which is to be held later Friday.

The Chinese leader called for joint efforts to crack down on the "three evil forces" of terrorism, separatism and extremism, including the "East Turkistan" forces, to safeguard peace, stability and tranquility in the two countries and the region at large.

For his part, Mirziyaev hailed China as a great neighbor, a sincere friend and a reliable partner of Uzbekistan, pledging Tashkent's efforts in strengthening security cooperation with Beijing to fight the "three evil forces" to guarantee regional peace, stability and prosperity.

During the meeting, Li lauded the ever-deepening mutual political trust, frequent high-level exchanges and fruitful cooperation between the two countries, and said Chinese President Xi Jinping's visit to Uzbekistan in September had brought the strategic partnership to a new stage.

There is a solid foundation for pragmatic cooperation between China and Uzbekistan, and their confidence and willingness for cooperation have been increasing, Li said, calling on both sides to give full play to the inter-governmental cooperation committee to achieve more mutually beneficial cooperation.

Efforts should be made to promote trade and investment, the Chinese premier said, listing finance, agriculture and infrastructure construction -- such as railway and highway building -- as areas for further cooperation.

He also put emphasis on new energy cooperation in fields such as the photovoltaic industry, and urged more local-level exchanges.

Mirziyaev said his country stands ready to work with China to implement the consensus and cooperation agreements reached by leaders of both sides, and to expand cooperation in energy, economy and trade, investment, tourism and cultural exchanges.

After their meeting, the two leaders attended the signing ceremony of documents on bilateral cooperation in such fields as trade, energy and culture.