In refocus on Central Asia, Putin pays official visit to Uzbekistan
This is Putin’s third foreign trip after his Inauguration as President of the Russian Federation for the fifth time
By IAR Desk
May 27, 2024 A meeting between the President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev and the President of Russia Vladimir Putin took place in Tashkent, the Uzbek capital, at the Kuksaroy Residencein in a contracted format, Uzbekixtan’s State News Agency Dunyo reported.
At the beginning of the conversation, the President of Uzbekistan, warmly welcoming the distinguished guest, emphasized that the President of Russia was paying one of his first foreign visits after his re-election to Uzbekistan.
This is Putin’s third foreign trip since being inaugurated for a fifth presidential term earlier this month.
At the meeting, issues of further developing and deepening comprehensive strategic partnership and alliance between Uzbekistan and Russia were discussed.
In preparation for the current visit, parliamentarian meetings, political consultations, the Innoprom exhibition, conferences of rectors of leading engineering and technical universities and heads of reputable medical institutions of the two countries were fruitfully held in Tashkent, and the events of the Russian Art Week continue in Tashkent.
The growing dynamics of trade and economic cooperation were noted with satisfaction. The volume of trade turnover and Russian investment in Uzbekistan is growing, and industrial collaboration is developing. The portfolio of joint projects amounted to $45 billion.
An agreement was reached to launch a Joint Investment Platform to support joint projects of leading enterprises.
The Presidents stated the importance of further developing interregional cooperation.
The heads of the two states later chaired the first meeting of the Council of Regions of Uzbekistan and Russia today.
The leaders also substantively considered the development of mutually beneficial cooperation in energy, including nuclear, agriculture, innovation, migration, security, and others.
A highlight of the visit was an agreement whereby Russia will build a small nuclear power plant in the Central Asian country.
Quoting the Russian state-owned energy corporation, Rosatom, Russia’s state news agency RIA Novosti reported that the project envisions building six reactors with the total capacity of 330 megawatts. According to Russian media, the two countries were earlier discussing building a nuclear power plant of a larger capacity — of 2.4 gigawatts.
Another bilateral commitment was to increase Russian gas supplies to Uzbekistan.
This is significant for Russia as hopes of increasing gas supplies to its foremost importer China via the envisaged pipeline Power of Siberia 2 remains unrealized.
The development of diverse cultural and humanitarian exchanges was highly appreciated. During the visit, a Cultural Cooperation Program will be adopted.
Special attention was paid to cooperation in education and training engineering personnel. Agreements were reached regarding opening branches of the Bauman Moscow State Technical University and the All-Russian Academy of Foreign Trade in Uzbekistan.
The heads of state also exchanged views on regional and international issues of mutual interest.
