Chinese President Hu Jintao on Wednesday pledged efforts to enhance cooperation with Uzbekistan when meeting in Tashkent with his Uzbek counterpart Islam Karimov.

Chinese President Hu Jintao (L) meets with Uzbekistan's President Islam Karimov in Tashkent, June 9, 2010. This is Hu's second trip to the Central Asian state since he became China's head of state in 2003. [Xinhua photo]

The two leaders also exchanged views on prospects of bilateral ties and on international and regional issues of common concern.

Hu hailed the development of Sino-Uzbek ties since the two countries announced the establishment of friendly and cooperative partnership in 2004.

China highly appreciates Uzbekistan's continued and firm support in issues concerning China's core interests, said Hu. China respects the independence and sovereignty of Uzbekistan, and will as always back its efforts in safeguarding stability, developing its economy and improving people's livelihoods, Hu added.

Hu noted that China has always attached great importance to developing Sino-Uzbek relations and has taken as guiding principles long-term friendship, mutual respect, mutual trust, and equality and mutual benefit.

China will not alter its stance despite changes in international and regional situations, Hu said.

The Chinese leader meanwhile put forward a six-point proposal for enhancing the friendly and cooperative partnership with Uzbekistan.

He said that, first of all, the two countries should maintain high-level contacts to boost mutual understanding, including exchanges between heads of state, between parliaments, governments and political parties.