During a state visit to Uzbekistan between 21 and 24 June this year, Xi Jinping, the Chinese President, attended the 16th Meeting of the Heads of the State Council of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization Member States. On 22 June, China and Uzbekistan then issued a Joint Statement confirming their intent to promote and implement the various cooperative commitments and projects previously agreed between the two countries. In line with this, action will now be taken to strengthen mutually beneficial economic cooperation and to advance and implement a number of mutually beneficial projects, especially with regard to the high-tech sector. The two sides also confirmed their support for jointly establishing the Silk Road Economic Belt, while also seeking to deepen their cooperation with regard to a number of economic, trade, investment and energy initiatives. The two countries will also explore and implement a number of cooperation projects relating to road construction, machinery manufacturing, oil, gas and coal.

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