HUANGPU SHANGHAI

Ma Xingrui, Party chief of Xinjiang, and Erkin Tuniyaz, chairman of the Xinjiang regional government, met with a visiting delegation led by Orynbaev Amanbai Tlewbaevich, chairman of the Supreme Council of Karakalpakstan, an autonomous republic in Uzbekistan, on November 21. The meeting aimed to deepen the cooperation between Northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region and Karakalpakstan.

Ma emphasized the deepening friendship and cooperation between China and Uzbekistan. He highlighted the fruitful achievements of the two countries in the high-quality construction of the Belt and Road.

He also noted that the establishment of the China (Xinjiang) Pilot Free Trade Zone has brought significant historical opportunities for reform and opening-up. The exchange and cooperation between Xinjiang and Uzbekistan have been more frequent and closer this year, promising broad prospects for cooperation in various fields.

Ma encouraged both sides to cooperate in areas such as culture, tourism, agriculture, energy, and education, and promote the implementation of more projects to benefit both sides.

Orynbaev expressed gratitude for the reception in Xinjiang and provided an overview of the economic and social development of Karakalpakstan. He acknowledged China as Uzbekistan's largest trading partner and highlighted the crucial role of expanding foreign trade relations for the growth and development of Karakalpakstan.

He invited investors from Xinjiang to invest and participate in the development of various sectors, including green energy, mining, agriculture, livestock, tourism, higher education, medicine, and information technology, in his country.

The meeting concluded with both sides expressing their commitment to achieve new milestones in the bilateral relationship.