Uzbek, Belarusian presidents to discuss trade increase, broader industrial cooperation in Minsk - press service

TASHKENT. July 7 (Interfax) - Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev will pay an official visit to Belarus on July 8-9 at the invitation of the country's President Alexander Lukashenko, the Uzbek leader's press service said in a statement on Tuesday.

While in Minsk, Mirziyoyev will hold summit talks on a further development of the Uzbek-Belarusian wide-ranging partnership, it said.

The two sides will discuss bilateral trade increase and broader industrial cooperation in agriculture, mechanical engineering, the pharmaceutical, light and food industries, and other economic sectors, the statement said.

A special focus will be on the development of cultural and humanitarian cooperation.

The talks are expected to result in the signing of a package of bilateral documents on priority areas of cooperation.

On the eve of the visit, Minsk will host a third inter-regional forum attended by regional and business representatives from Uzbekistan and Belarus.