China, Uzbekistan to sign energy cooperation document

China and Uzbekistan will possibly sign a document on energy cooperation during Chinese President Hu Jintao's upcoming visit to Uzbekistan, said Chinese Assistant Foreign Minister Li Hui Tuesday.

Chinese President Hu Jintao is to make state visits to Poland, Hungary, Romania and Uzbekistan from June 8 to 18, at the invitation of presidents of the four countries.

Li told a press briefing that China and Uzbekistan have great potential and perspective for energy cooperation. Relevant departments of oil of the two countries made long-period research on bilateral energy cooperation and reached consensus that the twosides have great possibility and potential for energy cooperation.

He said Uzbekistan is an important country in Central Asia as well as a close neighbor of China. Since the establishment of diplomatic relations 12 years ago, China-Uzbekistan relations haveenjoyed sound development. The two countries keep close high-levelvisits, he said, adding that mutual understanding and trust have continuously improved.

Li said the two countries support each other on many important issues, and carried out increasing cooperation in the fields of trade, transportation and energy.

Uzbekistan firmly supports China's position on the Taiwan issueand Tibet issue, while China fully understands and supports Uzbekistan's efforts in maintaining state sovereignty and developing the economy, he said. China also conducted sound cooperation with Uzbekistan in fighting the "Eastern Turkistan" terrorist groups.

Source: Xinhua