On June 22, 2016 local time, President Xi Jinping held talks at Kuksaray State Guesthouse in Tashkent with President Islam Karimov of Uzbekistan. Speaking highly of China-Uzbekistan traditional friendship and fruitful results achieved from the development of bilateral relations, the two heads of state agreed to establish China-Uzbekistan comprehensive strategic partnership, so as to push forward bilateral cooperation.

Xi Jinping stressed that since the establishment of strategic partnership between the two countries in 2012, bilateral cooperation has entered in a period of rapid development. The two countries have maintained political mutual trust and mutually beneficial cooperation, comprehensively boosted strategic coordination and yielded fruitful results. China is ready to closely cooperate with Uzbekistan to promote the bilateral relations for more practical results. The two sides should increase mutual support, safeguard each other's core interests, comprehensively deepen practical cooperation in various fields such as economy and trade, production capacity, energy, agriculture, finance and infrastructure, push for common development of both countries and enrich the connotation of comprehensive strategic partnership with more results of practical cooperation. China and Uzbekistan need to enhance the level of security cooperation, safeguard regional peace and stability, expand people-to-people and cultural exchanges, strengthen non-governmental friendship between the two countries, enhance coordination in international affairs and elevate the level of strategic cooperation.

Islam Karimov expressed that Uzbekistan and China are good neighbours and partners. President Xi Jinping's state visit to Uzbekistan this time will vigorously advance the traditional friendship between the two countries and the in-depth development of mutually beneficial cooperation. Uzbekistan supports China's great cause of national reunification and its principles and stance on Taiwan, Tibet as well as other issues. Uzbekistan is willing to deepen cooperation with China in such fields as economy and trade, people's livelihood, people-to-people and cultural exchanges, security and infrastructure. Uzbekistan appreciates China's positive role in international affairs, and stands ready to strengthen communication and coordination in major international and regional issues and conduct close cooperation within the framework of Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) with China.

The two heads of state agreed to lift China-Uzbekistan relations to a comprehensive strategic partnership, so as to consolidate generations of friendship and deepen mutually beneficial cooperation.

The two sides decided to continue to increase mutual support on issues concerning their respective core interests such as territory, sovereignty and security, render firm support to each other in their choices of development paths, and enhance communication and coordination on major international and regional issues.

Both sides agreed to take the joint-construction of the "Belt and Road" as the mainline of bilateral practical cooperation, adhere to the principle of wide consultation, joint contribution and shared benefit, enhance the docking of development strategies, fully tap the potential of economic and trade cooperation, and actively promote cooperation in production capacity. The two countries will build Jizzakh industrial park into an important platform of production capacity cooperation, expand infrastructure construction cooperation, deeply promote energy cooperation, forge a new highlight in China-Uzbekistan agricultural cooperation and increase financial support to major cooperation projects between both countries.

Both sides agreed to conduct close people-to-people and cultural exchanges, expand communication between academic institutions, scientific research institutions, art groups and non-governmental organizations, and recommend respective excellent literary works to each other.

The two sides also vowed to work together to sternly crack down on the "three evil forces" and actively carry out cooperation in cyber security, drug control and combating cross-border organized crimes.

Both sides also exchanged views on the development of the SCO. Xi Jinping pointed out that this year marks the 15th anniversary of the establishment of the SCO. China speaks highly of Uzbekistan's important contributions to promoting the development of the SCO and preparing for the Tashkent Summit during its tenure as the SCO rotating presidency. China is willing to, together with Uzbekistan and other member states, take the Tashkent Summit as an opportunity to carry forward the "Shanghai Spirit", and maintain the correct direction of the SCO, so as to promote the SCO for greater development.

After the talks, both heads of state signed a Joint Declaration of the People's Republic of China and the Republic of Uzbekistan, and witnessed the signing of multiple bilateral cooperation documents in such areas as diplomacy, economy and trade, intellectual property and financing.

Both heads of state jointly met the press.

Before their talks, President Xi Jinping attended the welcoming ceremony held by Islam Karimov. Xi Jinping and his wife Mme. Peng Liyuan were warmly greeted by Islam Karimov and his wife Mme. Tatyana Karimova. The two heads of state stepped onto the reviewing stand. The military band played national anthems of China and Uzbekistan. With the company of Islam Karimov, Xi Jinping reviewed the guard of honor, shook hands and exchanged greetings with several diplomatic envoys to Uzbekistan.

Wang Huning, Li Zhanshu, Yang Jiechi and others attended the above activities.

At around 6:50 p.m. on June 21, 2016 local time, Xi Jinping took the special plane to Tashkent to continue his state visit to Uzbekistan after concluding his visit to Bukhara. Xi Jinping will also attend the 16th meeting of the Council of Heads of State of the SCO in Tashkent. When the special plane arrived at the No.1 airport in Tashkent, Islam Karimov and his wife as well as others warmly greeted him.