Zhang Jun, chief justice and president of the Supreme People's Court (SPC) of China, meets with Bakhtiyar Islamov, chairman of the Supreme Court of Uzbekistan, during a visit to Uzbekistan with an SPC delegation. [Photo/court.gov.cn]

Zhang Jun, chief justice and president of the Supreme People's Court of China, and Bakhtiyar Islamov, chairman of the Supreme Court of Uzbekistan, sign a Memorandum of Understanding on Cooperation between the Supreme People's Court of the People's Republic of China and the Supreme Court of the Republic of Uzbekistan. [Photo/court.gov.cn]

At the invitation of the Chairman of the Supreme Court of Uzbekistan Bakhtiyar Islamov, Zhang Jun, chief justice and president of the Supreme People's Court (SPC) of China, led a delegation to visit Uzbekistan and to attend the 19th Meeting of the Chief Justices of the Supreme Courts of Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Member States from May 21 to 25. 

During the visit, Zhang held talks with Islamov, with whom he signed a memorandum of understanding on cooperation between China's SPC and the Supreme Court of Uzbekistan. 

Zhang also met with Akbar Tashkulov, minister of justice of Uzbekistan; Kazem Gharibabadi, vice-president of Iran's Judiciary for International Affairs and secretary-general of its High Council for Human Rights; and Aslambek Mergaliyev, chairman of the Supreme Court of Kazakhstan.

Zhang Jun, chief justice and president of the Supreme People's Court of China, meets with Akbar Tashkulov, minister of justice of Uzbekistan. [Photo/court.gov.cn]

Zhang Jun, chief justice and president of the Supreme People's Court of China, meets with Kazem Gharibabadi, vice-president of Iran's Judiciary for International Affairs and secretary-general of its High Council for Human Rights. [Photo/court.gov.cn]

Zhang Jun, chief justice and president of the Supreme People's Court of China, meets with Aslambek Mergaliyev, chairman of the Supreme Court of Kazakhstan. [Photo/court.gov.cn]

During the meeting with Islamov, Zhang emphasized the close and good-neighborly relations between China and Uzbekistan, highlighting their increasing political mutual trust under the strategic guidance of the two heads of state. 

He mentioned the significant achievements of cooperation between the two countries within the framework of the Belt and Road Initiative. He also gave an overview of the progress of China's efforts in development of the rule of law and work of the country's courts, emphasizing the importance China attaches to the rule of law. 

Zhang expressed the hope that his visit would serve as an opportunity to strengthen judicial exchanges and cooperation between China and Uzbekistan, contributing to the modernization of both countries and the high-quality Belt and Road cooperation, as well as the building of the China-Uzbekistan community with a shared future. 

Islamov said that the Uzbekistan-China relationship has always been a model of friendly relations and mutually beneficial cooperation between two neighboring countries. 

He hailed the deepening practical cooperation in the judicial field between the two countries, saying the signed memorandum of understanding is expected to be an important guide for further cooperation between the courts of the two countries, particularly in areas such as the application of information technology in the judicial field, judicial personnel education and training, and combating cybercrime. 

Islamov said that Zhang's visit will further deepen mutual friendship and trust, making new contributions to the advancement of the rule of law in both countries. 

During the visit, Zhang also visited local courts in Tashkent. The delegation engaged in communication and exchanges with the Uzbek judiciary, consolidating consensus and seeking cooperation.