On the afternoon of April 19, 2011, Chinese President Hu Jintao held talks with his Uzbek counterpart Islam Karimov at the Great Hall of the People. The two heads of state agreed to strive to push forward bilateral ties based on the principles of mutual respect, sincere cooperation, mutual benefit and common development and open up a new chapter for China-Uzbekistan friendly cooperation.

During the meeting, Hu said since the establishment of diplomatic ties 19 years ago, China-Uzbekistan relations have shown a sound momentum of healthy and steady development. The establishment of China-Uzbekistan friendly cooperative partnership in 2004 pushed bilateral ties to a new stage of all-round, rapid development, said Hu, pointing to close high-level exchanges, firm political mutual support, close coordination in international and regional affairs and fruitful cooperation in all areas. All this has brought tangible benefits to both peoples.

Karimov expressed satisfaction with the steady development of bilateral ties in recent years. He said Uzbekistan spoke highly of China's enormous development achievements and the important constructive role China played in international and regional affairs. The Uzbek side also praised China's precious support and disinterested assistance for Uzbekistan's economic and social development. He said his country attaches great importance to its relations with China and always views China as a reliable cooperation partner. The Uzbek side is ready to work with China to push the two countries' friendly cooperative partnership to a new level, Karimov noted.

Hu offered a five-point proposal on further advancing China-Uzbekistan friendly cooperative partnership. Firstly, the two nations could enhance all-level exchanges and political mutual trust, Hu said, adding that both sides should maintain close high-level exchanges, deepen cooperation between governments, legislative bodies and parties, as well as develop and improve the bilateral cooperation mechanism. Secondly, the Chinese president suggested that the two nations explore potentials for cooperation and further pragmatic cooperation. Both sides should promote continued and steady growth in bilateral trade, broaden cooperation in energy and non-resources sectors and boost cooperation in such key areas as transport and communications, Hu said. The two countries should also improve the environment for investment to facilitate the investment of Chinese enterprises in Uzbekistan and vice versa, he added. Thirdly, according to Hu, China and Uzbekistan should deepen security cooperation to safeguard regional stability. Both sides should enhance security dialogue and coordination within bilateral and multilateral frameworks, exchange information in a timely manner and coordinate actions to crack down on the "three evil forces" of separatism, extremism and terrorism, including the "Eastern Turkistan" terrorist forces, as well as transnational organized crimes. Fourthly, the two nations should expand people-to-people and cultural exchanges and promote non-governmental friendship, Hu said, calling on both sides to take the opportunity of the 20th anniversary of the establishment of China-Uzbekistan diplomatic relationship next year to push forward exchanges of different forms between the two peoples in a bid to further consolidate the social basis of bilateral friendship. Finally, China and Uzbekistan could enhance multilateral coordination and mutual support. Hu said China supports Uzbekistan's entrance into the World Trade Organization and is willing to deepen the coordination and cooperation with Uzbekistan within multilateral frameworks such as the United Nations and the Shanghai Cooperation Organization in a bid to safeguard peace, stability and development of the region and the world at large.

Karimov fully agreed with Hu's proposals on comprehensively advancing bilateral ties. Next year marks the 20th anniversary of the establishment of China-Uzbekistan diplomatic relations, Karimov said, adding that the two countries should make full use of this occasion to strengthen top-level exchanges, respect and accommodate each other's core interests and improve cooperation mechanism. He urged both sides to expand pragmatic cooperation on economy, trade, investment, science, technology, energy and non-resources, enhance humanities exchanges and keep closer coordination in international and regional affairs, in order to push bilateral ties to achieve more results and bring more benefits to the peoples. He said Uzbekistan will continue its staunch support for China on issues concerning China's sovereignty and territorial integrity such as Taiwan and Tibet issues and work with China to combat the "three evil forces" including the "Eastern Turkistan" terrorist forces for regional peace and stability.

The two heads of state also exchanged in-depth views on international and regional issues of common concern and reached broad consensus.

Following the talks, the two heads of state signed a joint statement and attended the signing ceremony of bilateral cooperation documents.

Prior to the talks, President Hu held a welcome ceremony for President Karimov at the North Hall of the Great Hall of the People. President Hu Jintao's wife Liu Yongqing, Vice-Chairman of the Standing Committee of National People's Congress Ismail Tiliwaldi, State Councilor Dai Bingguo, Vice Chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) Sun Jiazheng, Vice-Chairman of the Central Committee of Chinese Peasants and Workers Democratic Party Liu Xiaofeng, Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi, , Minister of the National Development and Reform Commission Zhang Ping, Minister of Commerce Chen Deming and Chinese Ambassador to Uzbekistan Zhang Xiao attended the welcome ceremony.