TASHKENT, Uzbekistan, Nov. 3 (UPI) -- Leaders from China and Uzbekistan signed 10 agreements Saturday aimed at increasing cooperation between the two Asian countries.
During the official signing ceremony in Uzbekistan's capital of Tashkent, Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao said the new agreements represent an attempt to boost international relations with the growing country, China's official Xinhua news agency reported.
"China highly values its ties with Uzbekistan and will endeavor to boost bilateral cooperation based on the principles of equality, mutual trust, mutual benefit and common development," Wen said.
The new deals range from technological matters to issues of public health and environmental protection.
Yet the Chinese premier also called for additional cooperation between the two sides, particularly on economic and trade issues.
Wen said that in order to meet those goals, his nation would increase the amount of cotton it imports from Uzbekistan and support the country's tourism market.
Xinhua reported that Wen also informed Uzbek Prime Minister Shavkat Mirziyaev that China would also support Uzbekistan's likely efforts to join the World Trade Organization.
