Hu leaves Romania, visits Uzbekistan
(China Daily)
Updated: 2004-06-14 22:21

Chinese culture is front and centre this week in Uzbekistan.

Not only has the ongoing "Chinese Cultural Festival" in the capital Tashkent won cultural acclaim, but the five day festival is paving the way for a visit by President Hu Jintao.

Beyond that, both this Central Asian nation and China believe cultural exchanges will help promote bilateral relations.

In a speech released upon his arrival Monday evening, Hu said China and Uzbek are working together in politics, economics and trade, communication, education, culture, science and technology.

Uzbek Deputy Prime Minister, Alisher Azizkhodzhayev told reporters earlier before Hu's visit that his country has been happy with the mutually beneficial co-operation. The two countries established diplomatic ties in 1991.

He promised that Uzbekistan will continue to push the ties with China to a brand new level.

Uzbekistan is the last leg of Hu's four-nation tour, which has taken him to Poland, Hungary and Romania.

In a speech at Romanian Parliament earlier yesterday, Hu called for increased efforts in three areas to safeguard peace and promote common prosperity:

- Adhering to the principle of mutual trust and benefit, equality and co-ordination and achieving common security for all countries;

- Sticking to all-around, co-ordinated and sustainable development and working for common prosperity for all countries;

- Respecting cultural diversity and realizing common progress of all civilizations.

Chinese President Hu Jintao (L, Front) shakes hands with Romanian President Ion Iliescu after signing a joint statement pledging to build friendly and cooperative partnership between their countries in Bucharest, Romania, June 13, 2004. [Xinhua]

Hu and Romanian President Ion Iliescu agreed late Sunday in Bucharest that the two countries will work together to build "full-range co-operative partnership" relations.

The two presidents met for the second time in 10 months.

Their formal talks lasted more than one hour and they witnessed the signing of four bilateral documents that will expand co-operation in culture, tourism and the economy..

Hu said leaders from the two countries should pay more visits while the two countries should organize shared cultural events and a film week to mark the 55th anniversary of bilateral relations.

In addition, he said the two countries should expand tourism co-operation as Romania has become a destination for Chinese people.

Quite a number of European nations have seen more Chinese travel groups over the past several years. A few other countries are negotiating with China on the matter.

Iliescu has visited China five times. He said he agreed with Hu's proposal and pledged that Romania will continue to observe the one-China policy.

Romania's president said his country is trying to join the European Union and upgrading its national infrastructure, which means Romania and China can work together in many new areas.

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