President Shavkat Mirziyoyev on June 4 received a delegation from the People's Republic of China led by Li Jiachao, Chief Executive of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region.

At the beginning of the meeting, Li Jiachao conveyed warm greetings and best wishes from Chinese President Xi Jinping to the head of state.

The sides discussed pressing aspects of further expanding Uzbek-Chinese cooperation, particularly in the context of enhancing interregional exchanges and practical interaction with Hong Kong.

During the conversation, the unprecedented level of Uzbek-Chinese relations of friendship and all-weather strategic partnership in the new era achieved in recent years was noted with deep satisfaction.

High-level agreements are being consistently implemented. In May, the Intergovernmental Commission meeting in Beijing and the third Interregional Forum in Xi'an were successfully held, an economic forum and industrial exhibition took place in Hong Kong, and Uzbekistan's trade house was opened.

Special attention was paid to the importance of utilizing existing potential for economic partnership between Uzbekistan's regions and Hong Kong. Confidence was expressed that the current visit of a representative delegation of Hong Kong business circles to Tashkent would contribute to this.

The importance of adopting a comprehensive cooperation program was emphasized, covering expansion of trade, economic and financial ties, establishment of industrial cooperation, development of educational, tourism and business exchanges, as well as establishment of direct air service and consular services for citizens.

Priority areas include green energy, agriculture, biotechnology, digital economy, fintech, innovative startups, artificial intelligence, and others.

An agreement was reached to adopt a joint roadmap in priority areas of cooperation, establish a Business Council, and introduce a visa-free regime with Hong Kong on a reciprocal basis in the near future.

Source: kun.uz