Xi calls for closer China-Uzbekistan parliamentary exchanges

TASHKENT, Sept. 9 -- Chinese President Xi Jinping said here Monday that the legislatures of China and Uzbekistan should boost exchanges to help promote the overall bilateral relations.

Xi made the remarks in a visit to the Uzbek Senate, where Uzbek President Islam Karimov and Senate Chairman Ilgizar Sobirov briefed him about the host country's parliamentary system.

Describing parliamentary exchanges as an important component of the China-Uzbekistan strategic partnership, Xi urged the two countries' legislatures to expand exchanges so as to make more contribution to the development of bilateral ties.

All countries, said the Chinese president, should choose their social institutions and development paths in accordance with their respective national conditions.

Noting that China and Uzbekistan have long been linked together by the Silk Road and their cultures are closely related, Xi said the two countries should respect and learn from each other.

Xi arrived here Sunday for a state visit. He and Karimov held talks Monday and agreed to further boost bilateral relations and cooperation and strengthen their countries' strategic partnership.

Earlier in his ongoing overseas trip, he visited Turkmenistan and Kazakhstan and attended a Group of 20 summit in the Russian city of St. Petersburg.

After Uzbekistan, the Chinese president is to pay a state visit to Kyrgyzstan, where he will also attend a Shanghai Cooperation Organization summit.