Chinese President Hu Jintao said here Thursday that inter-parliamentary exchanges have played an important role in advancing the friendly and cooperative partnership between China and Uzbekistan.

Hu made the remark when meeting with Chairman of Uzbek Senate Ilgizar Sabirov in this capital city of the Central Asia country. Uzbek President Islam Karimov and Prime Minister Shavkat Mirziyaev were also present at the meeting.

Hu said since the two countries decided to establish the friendly and cooperative partnership some six years ago, China-Uzbekistan relations have seen all-round, stable and healthy growth, with cooperation in various fields bearing fruitful results.

As borne out by facts, the establishment and development of this partnership are not only in the fundamental interests of the two countries and peoples, but also conducive to peace, stability and prosperity in the region, he said.

Hu said exchanges and cooperation between the legislatures of the two countries are an important part of the China-Uzbekistan friendly and cooperative partnership.

Thanks to the joint effort of both sides, exchanges and cooperation between the legislatures of both countries have broadened and made remarkable progress in recent years, Hu said, while expressing appreciation of the important contributions the parliamentarians of both countries have made to advancing bilateral ties.

Hu said he had extensive exchange of views Wednesday with President Karimov and reached broad consensus on advancing bilateral ties. The two leaders also signed a joint declaration on deepening and expanding the China-Uzbekistan friendly and cooperative partnership in a comprehensive way.

Hu expressed the belief that in the process of implementing the consensus and agreements, bilateral links will see even greater development. He also expressed the wish that the legislatures of both countries will continue to contribute to deepening China-Uzbekistan links.

For his part, Sabirov introduced functions and components of Uzbekistan's Parliament, as well as the important role it plays in the country's economic and social development.

Sabirov said the Uzbek side attaches great importance to its relations with China and the Parliament of Uzbekistan has maintained friendly ties with the legislature of China, known as the National People's Congress (NPC), adding the inter-parliamentary cooperation is of great significance to advancing bilateral ties.

Sabirov said Uzbekistan's Parliament is ready to further strengthen exchanges and cooperation with China's NPC so as to play an active role in enhancing the further growth of bilateral relations.

Hu is in Tashkent for a three-day state visit to Uzbekistan and for an annual summit of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization(SCO). He will conclude his visit here and fly to Kazakhstan Friday.