President of Uzbekistan Islam Karimov paid an official visit to Russia on 5-6 February.

At the talks in Moscow, President off Uzbekistan Islam Karimov and President of Russia Vladimir Putin considered perspectives of bilateral relations, as well as cooperation in security and within international organizations.

Islam Karimov noted that the negotiations were a favorable opportunity to exchange views on the two countries’ relations and regional and international issues. He stressed that Uzbekistan considered Russia an important strategic partner.

Vladimir Putin expressed confidence that the visit of the President of Uzbekistan would serve as a new impulse in deepening bilateral cooperation. He also congratulated Islam Karimov with winning the December 2007 presidential elections.

Cooperation with Russia occupies an important place in the foreign policy of Uzbekistan. The two countries signed the Strategic partnership treaty in 2004 and the Allied relations treaty in 2005.

Uzbekistan and Russia closely cooperate virtually in all spheres of economy. The volume of goods turnover increased by 48% in 2007 to USD 4.2 billion.

Islam Karimov and Vladimir Putin continued talks with participation of the members of the official delegations of Uzbekistan and Russia.

The presidents highly evaluated the state of multilateral cooperation between the two states. At the same time, they noted, there was a huge unused potential in both economic and social spheres.

The heads of governments, ministries and departments were entrusted with developing measures to expand cooperation between the countries.

After the negotiations the sides signed the Joint communiqué of the presidents, the intergovernmental Program of economic cooperation for 2008-2012, the intergovernmental Agreement on cooperation in aircraft building and the Program of cooperation between the foreign ministries for 2008.

In the communiqué, the heads of two states expressed satisfaction with the present state of cooperation. They also outlined the sides’ intentions to expand relations in the economic, scientific, technical, investment and humanitarian cooperation.

The economic cooperation program covers issues like stable economic development of the two states, expansion of trade and economic ties, stimulating entrepreneurship contacts, joint development and implementation of large projects and agricultural cooperation.

During the visit to Moscow, President Islam Karimov also received Lukoil company president Vagit Alekperov and chairman of board of directors of Rusal company Oleg Deripaska. The talks focused on cooperation in oil and energy, and mining sectors, respectively.

Source of information: http://www.uza.uz