On November 3, 2007, visiting Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao met separately with Erkin Halilov, speaker of the Legislative Chamber of the Uzbek Supreme Assembly and Senate President Ilgizar Sabirov in Tashkent.

On November 3, Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao (front right) met with Erkin Halilov, speaker of the Legislative Chamber of the Uzbek Supreme Assembly in Tashkent

Wen made positive comments on the growth in bilateral relations, as well as friendly cooperation between the two countries in all fields. Wen said both China and Uzbekistan, as close neighbors, are developing nations and enhancing friendly cooperation between the two nations conforms to the needs of development of the two countries and is also in the fundamental interests of the two peoples. China is ready to work with Uzbekistan to bring bilateral cooperation of mutual benefit to a new level, he said.

The Chinese premier also noted the close exchanges between the legislative bodies of the two countries in recent years, saying they have played "an irreplaceable role" in advancing bilateral relations as a whole. He hoped that the Uzbek parliament and its members will continue to support friendly cooperation with China. Wen said China wishes to see increased exchanges and cooperation between the two countries' parliaments at various levels to contribute to the development of bilateral ties.

China is an important force for safeguarding regional peace and stability and promoting common prosperity, Halilov said. The Uzbek side appreciates the respect China has shown for the country's domestic and foreign policies and the Uzbek parliament favors a strengthening of friendly cooperation between the two countries, Halilov said. He believed that Premier Wen's visit will surely push forward bilateral ties.

On November 3, Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao met with Ilgizar Sabirov, president of the Senate of the Uzbek Supreme Assembly in Tashkent

Sabirov said Uzbekistan and China share identical or similar views on many major world and regional issues and there are no political differences between the two countries. Bilateral cooperation in all areas is developing smoothly and expanding continuously based on mutual trust, equality and mutual benefit. The Uzbek Senate is willing to work closely with the National People's Congress of China and continue to play its positive role in promoting bilateral relations, he said.

On the same day, Wen laid a wreath to Uzbekistan's Monument of Independence and Humanism and called on the staff of the Chinese Embassy in Uzbekistan and representatives from Chinese-funded institutions, overseas Chinese and Chinese students.