BEIJING - Uzbek President Islam Karimov met with his Chinese counterpart Hu Jintao Wednesday, vowing to step up the fight against terrorism as he sought backing for his crackdown against anti-government protestors.
The visit is the hardline president's first overseas trip since the May 13 violence in which Uzbek security forces opened fire on people demonstrating against Karimov's iron-fisted rule, killing between 500 and 1,000 people, many of them civilians, according to independent activists and rights groups.
"I would like to stress once more that the fight against international terrorism, separatism and extremism is a priority direction for Uzbek policy," he said in an interview with the leading People's Daily.
Analysts say Beijing is willing to give Karimov support because it needs his help to keep Muslim separatists from its northwestern Xinjiang region in check.
In the interview, Karimov said it is a "priority task" for Uzbekistan to strengthen cooperation with China on combating terrorism.
Karimov has blamed the unrest in Andijan on Islamic extremists and said in the interview that "at the moment, the fight against religious extremism has a deepened meaning".
Facing international criticism from countries including the United States, he arrived in China with few other places to turn in his quest to restore his credibility at home.
"You can't imagine any Western European or North American country inviting the Uzbekistan leader to visit at this time (but) it fits the pattern of China," said political analyst Paul Harris from Lingnan University in Hong Kong.
China's foreign ministry indirectly voiced support for the Uzbek crackdown Tuesday.
"The recent events in Uzbekistan are mainly an internal issue, but we support their efforts in striking at terrorism, extremism and separatism," spokesman Kong Quan said.
China supports Karimov because it is mindful of security problems in Central Asian countries, especially Uzbekistan, spilling over into its restive Muslim-populated Xinjiang region, said Ding Peihua, a Central Asia expert in the Shanghai Academy of Social Sciences.
"If Uzbekistan is not stable, that will have a big impact on China's security situation," Ding said.
China has long seen Uzbekistan as one of the key hideouts of ethnic Uighur Muslim separatists seeking to create an independent state in Xinjiang.
East Turkestan separatists have close links with Uzbekistan's Islamic extremist groups, and some reports indicated most of the Uighur separatists were in Uzbekistan, Ding said.
The eastern Uzbek city of Andijan is only about 200 kilometers (124 miles) from China's border.
It is unclear how much assistance Karimov has provided China in the past, but Ding said Tashkent likely shares much intelligence with Beijing on separatist groups and activities.
Beijing also has a keen eye on Uzbekistan's oil, natural gas and other resources and was expected to agree to establish a 600-million-dollar joint energy venture during Karimov's stay, according to the People's Daily.
A joint venture agreement was signed between Uzbekistan National Oil and Gas Corporation, or Uzbekneftegaz, and the China National Petroleum Corp following Hu and Karimov's meeting Wednesday.
No details were given but it is believed to be the same agreement mentioned by People's Daily.
"That's a major step forward in our energy cooperation," Karimov told the paper.
China is concerned about its dependence on Middle Eastern oil, and is searching all parts of the globe for alternatives, while also seeking to import more natural gas.
Uzbekistan is the eighth-largest global producer of natural gas.
Other agreements include a treaty signed by Hu and Karimov on "cooperative partnership," and agreements in the legal, tourism and customs areas.
Hu Wednesday called Karimov "an old friend of China" and Karimov thanked Beijing for being a "reliable friend",
"We see this visit as the most important new stage in bilateral relations," Karimov told Hu.
The two sides have said Karimov's visit was planned before the crackdown, although it was not officially announced until afterwards.
In addition to political support, Karimov will likely seek to boost trade and arms sales from China, said Ding. He is scheduled to meet Premier Wen Jiabao Thursday.
05/25/2005 14:18 GMT