TASHKENT (TCA) — The Minister of Foreign Affairs of Uzbekistan, Abdulaziz Kamilov, who arrived in London to attend the Global Conference for Media Freedom, met with a group of members of Parliament of the United Kingdom, Uzbekistan’s Jahon official information agency reported on July 11.
According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Uzbekistan, the meeting discussed relations between Uzbekistan and the United Kingdom in the context of their development prospects. The sides expressed satisfaction with the constructive nature of Uzbekistan–British dialogue and considered key areas of political, trade, economic, cultural and humanitarian cooperation.
British parliamentarians welcomed the foreign policy of Uzbekistan under the leadership of President Shavkat Mirziyoyev on building good-neighborly and mutually beneficial relations with neighboring countries. They also highly appreciated the policy of Tashkent on involving neighboring Afghanistan in regional economic, infrastructure and communication projects, active efforts of the Uzbek side in promoting the peace process in Afghanistan, and the assistance provided to the Afghan side through educational and humanitarian programs.
The Uzbek Foreign Minister invited members of the UK Parliament to visit Uzbekistan, as well as to participate as observers in the upcoming elections to the Oliy Majlis (Uzbek Parliament) and local councils at the end of the year.
The British side expressed interest in further deepening the inter-parliamentary dialogue and readiness to participate in observation of elections to the Oliy Majlis in December this year.
On July 11, Foreign Minister Abdulaziz Kamilov also met with UK Parliamentary Under Secretary of State, Minister for Investment Graham Stuart.
At the meeting, the main attention was paid to bilateral economic relations.
It was emphasized that comprehensive reforms being carried out in Uzbekistan open up new prospects for business of the two countries for cooperation in trade, economic, investment, financial and other spheres. Although the trade turnover between Uzbekistan and the United Kingdom in 2018 grew by almost 40% and exceeded 235 million USD, the parties have significant potential for growth in mutual trade.
The sides positively assessed the results of the 24th Session of the Uzbek-British Trade and Industry Council held on February 28 in Tashkent, at which documents on implementation of projects worth over 310 million USD were signed.
Graham Stuart noted a stimulating role for expanding mutually beneficial ties of opening by the UK’s export credit agency of a credit line of 1.25 billion pounds and the British side’s support for creating an international financial center in Tashkent.
The parties confirmed their readiness to support the businesspeople of the two countries to develop cooperation.
