Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) -- On 5 September, Tashkent hosted a conference on cooperation and exchange between China (Shandong) - Uzbekistan and an event on the occasion of the 10th anniversary of the Belt and Road Initiative.

The purpose of both events is to promote the sharing of opportunities of the "Belt and Road", further enhance the benefits of cooperation, increase the level of cooperation, open a new space for mutually beneficial cooperation at the local level between Shandong Province and Uzbekistan.

The Secretary of the CPC Committee, Chairman of the Standing Committee of the Shandong Provincial People’s Congress, Lin Wu, attended the event and delivered a keynote speech. In his introduction, he called for "Sharing the opportunities of the Belt and Road, jointly opening up a new future of win-win cooperation." "The path of cooperation between Shandong and Uzbekistan will become wider, the fruits of cooperation will become more abundant, tomorrow’s day of cooperation will become brighter," he said.

Welcoming speeches at the conference were also made by Deputy Prime Minister of Uzbekistan Jamshid Khodjaev and Deputy Minister of Culture of Uzbekistan Murodjon Majidov.

China and Uzbekistan are connected by a long history of contacts, deep friendship and close cooperation. In 2013, Chinese President Xi Jinping launched a landmark initiative for the collective construction of the Belt and Road. Uzbekistan was an important node on the ancient Silk Road and became one of the first countries to support the Belt and Road Initiative and actively participates in it.

Close trade, economic and cultural exchanges have been established between Shandong Province and Uzbekistan at the local level. More than 2000 years ago, ceramics, silk fabrics and other authentic Shandong goods came to Uzbekistan with camel caravans. At present, Eurasian freight trains "Qilu" run smoothly between Shandong and Uzbekistan from east to west, building a "steel bridge on the new Silk Road."

Shandong invariably attaches great importance to exchanges and contacts and develops comprehensive cooperation with the regions of Uzbekistan in such aspects as stimulating interregional interaction, expanding investment and cooperation, unhindered trade in goods, and developing ties between people.

During the event, keynote speeches were made by Sun Aijun, head of the Shandong Provincial Development and Reform Committee, Wang Lei, head of the Shandong Provincial Culture and Tourism Bureau, Zhang Xinzhu, secretary of the CPC Work Commission of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization Demonstration Zone, and Zhang Xinzhu, secretary of the CPC Committee Zibo City Ma Xiaolei, Jining City CCP Committee Secretary Lin Hongyu, Rizhao City CCP Committee Secretary Li Zaiwu, and Shandong Hi-Speed Group Chairman Wang Qifeng.

  The speakers spoke about the province of Shandong and about various local successes on a new path of high-quality development, outlined new prospects for mutually beneficial cooperation between Shandong and Uzbekistan.

Within the framework of the events, the ceremony of signing agreements on projects and the opening ceremony took place. They were attended by heads of business associations and enterprises of Uzbekistan, as well as heads of cities and provincial departments, representatives of key enterprises in Shandong province.