KASHGAR, Aug. 16 (Xinhua) -- The Kashgar Prefecture and its cities and counties in northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region signed seven new international partnership agreements with counterparts in Uzbekistan and Laos on Saturday.

The agreements were signed at a side event of the ongoing 15th Kashgar-Central and South Asia Commodity Fair, covering partnerships such as Kashgar City and Ferghana City in Uzbekistan, Yengisar county in Kashgar and Phonhong district in Vientiane province, Laos.

Mirzokhid Ubaydullaev, a senior official of Ferghana region in Uzbekistan, praised Xinjiang as a key hub that connects China with Central Asia. He noted that under the Belt and Road Initiative, numerous Chinese companies have been deeply involved in the region's infrastructure, construction materials, and renewable energy projects.

"We look forward to promoting cooperation in science and technology, education, and healthcare," he said.

Since establishing its first international sister-city partnership in 2005, the Kashgar Prefecture has expanded its network to include 21 partnerships. Enditem