Mirziyoyev, Rubio discuss development of Uzbekistan-U.S. strategic partnership
TASHKENT. Oct 19 (Interfax) - Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev and U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio have discussed development priorities of the bilateral strategic partnership, the president's press service said in a statement on Monday.
"The main focus was on further strengthening the Uzbek-U.S. strategic partnership and consistent implementation of the agreements reached at the highest level," the statement said.
The sides praised the results of the latest C5+1 (five Central Asian countries plus the United States) ministerial meeting, which reaffirmed mutual interest in strengthening the dialogue and expanding multifaceted cooperation between the U.S. and the Central Asian countries, it said.
The two sides noted the intensifying bilateral interactions in politics and in the security, trade, investment, innovation, technology, education and cultural areas, and the expanding contacts between their parliaments, relevant agencies, business circles and academic communities, the press service said..
Separately, the sides discussed security cooperation, primarily combatting terrorism, extremism, drug trafficking and illegal immigration.
The launch of a Dialogue for Enhanced Strategic Partnership marked an important stage in the development of bilateral relations, the statement said. The first meeting resulted in the signing of number of bilateral documents, including the Artemis Accords envisaging the principles of peaceful space exploration.
Economic cooperation remains a key area of the strategic partnership. Bilateral trade has risen by 35% since the beginning of the year, the service said. The two countries are implementing major projects in civil aviation, car making, the mining industry, the energy sector, agriculture, digitization, and financing under an economic cooperation program.
The sides stressed the special role of the U.S.-Uzbek Business and Investment Council in the development of trade and economic ties. Its second meeting resulted in new agreements totaling $12 billion.
The sides also discussed the prospects of cooperating on strategic minerals, energy, transport, artificial intelligence and digital technology. Particular attention was paid to developing inter-regional ties and organizing exchanges of business missions.
On humanitarian cooperation, the sides noted the development of educational ties. Webster University, American University of Technology and the Center of Excellence of the Colorado School of Mines have operations in Tashkent. The number of U.S. visitors to Uzbekistan is also rising.
Mirziyoyev and Rubio also exchanged views on pressing issues of international politics and regional security and examined the schedule of upcoming events involving their countries' leaders, and their contents.
Mirziyoyev awarded Rubio with an Order of Outstanding Merit and U.S. special envoy for South and Central Asian Affairs Sergio Gor with an Order of Friendship, the press service said.
Rubio and Gor attended the C5+1 ministerial meeting and the second meeting of the U.S.-Uzbek Business and Investment Council, which were held in Samarkand.
