Chinese President Xi Jinping (1st R) and his wife Peng Liyuan (2nd R) greet visiting Uzbekistan's President Islam Karimov (2nd L) and his wife Tatyana Karimova during a welcoming ceremony in Beijing, capital of China, Aug 19, 2014. [Photo/Xinhua]

BEIJING - China and Uzbekistan on Wednesday pledged to further promote their cooperation in such areas as transportation infrastructure construction, energy, and finance.

The pledge was made by Chinese Premier Li Keqiang and President of Uzbekistan Islam Karimov in their meeting in Beijing on Wednesday morning.

China will work with Uzbekistan to promote the construction of the Silk Road economic belt, and their cooperation in such areas as transportation infrastructure, energy, industrial parks and finance, Li said.

He also called on the two countries to expand cultural and personnel exchanges, and make closer communication and coordination on global and regional affairs to maintain regional security and prosperity.

The premier also thanked Uzbekistan for its steady support on issues concerning China's core interests, and vowed to continue to support Uzbekistan to follow a development path in accordance with its national situation.

He hoped the two governments could make good use of the two countries' mutual political trust to promote their substantial cooperation.

Hailing China's role in promoting world peace and the two sides' common development, Karimov said Uzbekistan is willing to push forward bilateral cooperation in areas including transportation infrastructure construction, energy and culture.

He also vowed Uzbekistan will actively participate in the construction of the Silk Road economic belt, and strengthen regional peace, stability and development.

Invited by Chinese President Xi Jinping, Karimov is on a two-day state visit to China from Tuesday to Wednesday. It is his second China trip this year following his visit to Shanghai for the 2014 Summit of the Conference on Interaction and Confidence-Building Measures in Asia.

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