(ChinaDaily.com.cn) – China and Uzbekistan elevated bilateral ties to a strategic partnership on Wednesday with five agreements signed to boost cooperation. Among the documents are an economic technology cooperation agreement and a memorandum on establishing a joint industrial park.

The parties also agreed to expand the capacity of transporting gas from Central Asia to China. They also signed cooperation deals regarding plant protection and quarantine as well as animal hygiene.

Important agreements were reached between China and Uzbekistan during this visit in the development of transport infrastructure and the organization of international traffic. Cargo air communication between the Uzbek city of Navoi and Chinese Tianjin opens from July 1 this year. Flights will be operated at a frequency of three times a week.

Statistics from Chinese customs show bilateral trade between China and Uzbekistan was more than US $2.1 billion in 2011, a year-on-year decrease of about 12%. China is the biggest investor in the Central Asian nation.