Samarkand, March 29th—Liu Jianchao, Minister of the International Department of the CPC Central Committee (IDCPC), met here today with Boboev Adiz Muzafarovich, Acting Governor of Samarkand Region. 

Liu said, over the past three decades, the people of China and Uzbekistan have always advanced hand in hand and developed together. Samarkand has been an important political, economic, scientific and cultural center in Central Asia since ancient times, witnessing the splendor and glory of the ancient Silk Road. Today, it stands as a pioneer in the China-Uzbekistan cooperation under the Belt and Road Initiative. Many provinces and cities in China have established sister-province and sister-state relationships with Samarkand Region, which has played an important role in promoting the economic and social development of the two countries at the local level. China is willing to deepen cooperation with Uzbekistan, including Samarkand Region, under the framework of the Belt and Road Initiative, in accordance with the important consensus reached by the two heads of state, and make contributions to enhancing people-to-people bonds, promoting the development of bilateral relations and regional peace and prosperity. 

Boboev warmly welcomed the delegation of the IDCPC to Samarkand Region. He said that Uzbekistan and China have a traditional friendship. Samarkand Region is an important node in the Uzbekistan-China cooperation under the Belt and Road Initiative. It has carried out a large number of cooperation projects with Chinese localities and achieved fruitful results. Samarkand Region is willing to further strengthen mutually beneficial cooperation with the Chinese side, actively participate in the Belt and Road Initiative, and promote practical cooperation in trade and investment, culture and tourism and other fields. The government of Samarkand Region is willing to create a favorable business environment and welcome Chinese enterprises to invest and start businesses in Samarkand Region. 

On March 30th, Liu also visited a mahalla, a primary self-governing organization in Samarkand and exchanged views with its leaders on primary social governance and the work of the political party organization. 

Yu Jun, Chinese Ambassador to Uzbekistan, Kobilov Rustam Rajabboevich, the deputy governor of Samarkand region, Khamraev Oybek Nematovich, the deputy governor of Samarkand region, and others attended the relevant activities.