Uzbek-Russian cooperation becomes multilevel, multifaceted - Mirziyoyev
TASHKENT. June 5 (Interfax) - Cooperation between Uzbekistan and Russia has become multilevel and multifaceted, Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev said at a plenary session of the 29th St. Petersburg International Economic Forum.
"To Uzbekistan, Russia is not just a neighbor in the region, but a strategic partner and an ally that has stood the test of time. Our relations today have entered a new era. Cooperation has become multilevel and multifaceted," Mirziyoyev was quoted as saying by his press secretary Sherzod Asadov on his Telegram channel.
The countries have gone from regular trade in goods to the formation of production chains, technological alliances, joint design and production localization, Mirziyoyev said.
Uzbek-Russian trade more than tripled over the past ten years, increasing from $4 billion to $13 billion, Mirziyoyev said. The total joint projects portfolio exceeds $50 billion.
The president also emphasized the expansion of interregional cooperation. The volume of implemented interregional projects has reached $5 billion, and an investment package worth another $5 has been prepared, he said.
"I would like to dwell on cooperation in the energy sector. Thanks to investment projects, including those involving Russia, we have increased electrical power generation by more than fifty percent, from 58 billion kilowatt hours to 87 billion kilowatt hours," Mirziyoyev said.
By 2030, Uzbekistan plans to increase electrical power generation to 120 billion kilowatt hours, and 54% of the generation will come from renewable energy resources, he said.
A ceremony to lay down the first stone in the foundation of a nuclear power plant has recently been held, Mirziyoyev said. The country's power capacities will also increase thanks to the launch of Uzbekistan's first hybrid nuclear power plant with Russia's participation, he said.
"We also intend to work together in other areas of peaceful atom use - medicine, agriculture, industry and science," Mirziyoyev said.
