Sino-Uzbek relations have maintained stable development and become an example of friendly neighboring countries, said Jiang Yan, Chinese ambassador to Uzbekistan.

She hailed the bilateral cooperation in every field as it is bolstered by the two leaders and people despite various changes.

President Xi Jinping started his state visit to Uzbekistan on Wednesday evening at the invitation of Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev.

Prior to the visit, the two presidents had met virtually at a virtual summit marking 30 years of diplomatic relations between China and the five Central Asian countries in January. The two leaders also held bilateral meetings prior to the opening ceremony of the Beijing 2022 Olympic Winter Games in February.

The ambassador said the two leaders had pointed out the direction of bilateral cooperation in every field. And both governments will seriously implement the agreement by the presidents, push the coordination of the high-quality joint construction of the Belt and Road Initiative and the development strategy of New Uzbekistan, implement the five-year plan of Sino-Uzbek economic investment and cooperation, and accelerate deciding on new cooperation projects.

Both countries are beefing up their efforts to deepen mutual connection, pushing the construction of the China-Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan railway, recovering and increasing direct flights between the two countries, raising the transportation capability of cross-border roads and railways, perfecting the cooperation mechanism over reducing poverty, enhancing medical cooperation, enlarging the joint manufacture of vaccines and building a "Health Silk Road".

Since the establishment of diplomatic relations in 1992, China and Uzbekistan have always adhered to equal treatment, mutual respect and mutual benefit. Both countries have firmly supported each other in safeguarding national sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity, and firmly supported the development path chosen by each other.

From friendly cooperative partnership and strategic partnership to comprehensive strategic partnership, the political mutual trust between China and Uzbekistan has continued to climb to new heights.

For years China has been Uzbekistan's biggest trading partner and largest import destination. There are over 2,000 Chinese companies in Uzbekistan, and cooperative projects to jointly construct the BRI have brought real benefits to the people of both countries.

"Xi will attend a leaders' summit of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization in the Uzbek city of Samarkand. The event itself has significant meaning as it's the first summit in the SCO's third decade," Jiang said.

She said the SCO family has continuously added new members and new partners, and has become the world's largest and most populous comprehensive regional organization. Its international influence and attractiveness continue to increase, as more countries are optimistic about the strong stamina of the "multi-wheel drive" of the SCO in terms of security, economy and humanities.

The Global Development Initiative and the Global Security Initiative raised by Xi have contributed Chinese wisdom in solving the challenges of the era. They are integrated with the Shanghai Spirit, which feature mutual trust, mutual benefit, equality, consultation, respect for cultural diversity and pursuit of common development. The initiatives have gained positive responses and support from SCO members, Jiang said.

"We believe all parties will use the summit to actively explore the positive way to implement the initiatives for global development and global security, and jointly boost the constant development and long prosperity of the SCO," Jiang said.