China-Uzbekistan Sign Economic Deals

Uzbek President Islam Karimov (file photo)

Uzbek President Islam Karimov and Chinese President Xi Jinping have signed agreements worth a reported $15 billion in key Uzbek sectors such as oil, gas, and uranium production.

At a press conference after the signing, Karimov praised ties with China and said during Uzbekistan's years as an independent country China never set "any political or other conditions" in its relations with Uzbekistan.

Xi arrived in Uzbekistan on September 8 and is expected to travel with Karimov to the ancient Silk Road city of Samarkand on September 10.

Xi has been touring Central Asia, already visiting Turkmenistan and Kazakhstan. Xi will also stop in Kyrgyzstan for talks and to attend a summit of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization.

Based on reporting by AFP and Interfax