XI'AN, Aug. 15 (Xinhua) -- Uzbek Deputy Prime Minister Jamshid Khodjayev on Sunday called for closer Uzbekistan-China cooperation to forcefully stimulate bilateral ties.

The reality has determined that countries around the world must strengthen cooperation to effectively address such challenges as the COVID-19 pandemic, Khodjayev said in a video address at the opening ceremony of the Sixth Silk Road International Exposition in Xi'an, capital of northwest China's Shaanxi Province.

To offset the adverse impact of the pandemic, joint efforts from Uzbekistan and China are needed to seek new development momentum and new growth drivers, Khodjayev said.

Noting that the friendship between Uzbekistan and China dates back to the ancient Silk Road period, Khodjayev said the two countries should fully leverage their economic complementary strengths to boost cooperation in such fields as digital economy, e-commerce, logistics, investment and regional cooperation, so as to provide more possibilities for and inject strong impetus into the sustainable development of bilateral partnership.

Carrying the theme of strengthening interconnectivity and integration for common progress, shared benefits and win-win results, the five-day expo has attracted participants from more than 70 countries and regions.