TASHKENT — China is willing to work with Uzbekistan to boost their strategic partnership and open up new prospects for mutually beneficial cooperation, visiting Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said in Tashkent on May 23.

During a meeting with Uzbek President Islam Karimov, Wang said bilateral relations have made significant progress since the establishment of the strategic partnership between the two countries.

This year marks the 15th anniversary of the founding of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO), he said, adding that China will fully support Uzbekistan in hosting an upcoming SCO summit in its capital city of Tashkent and push forward security and economic cooperation for new achievements.

For his part, Karimov said he is looking forward to the Chinese president’s attendance at the Tashkent summit.

Uzbekistan is ready to work with China to further promote the two countries’ strategic partnership, strengthen all-round mutually beneficial cooperation, and advance the SCO’s new development, he said.