President Shavkat Mirziyoyev of Uzbekistan and President Alexander Lukashenko of Belarus convened for crucial talks, accompanied by official delegations from both nations on February 8, the presidential press service reported. The discussions aimed to reinforce the already robust partnership between the two countries and set a new agenda for mutually beneficial cooperation.
President Mirziyoyev highlighted strides made in bilateral relations in recent years, emphasizing the elevation to a higher quality level. Preparations for President Lukashenko's visit included successful events such as the meeting of the Intergovernmental Commission and forums involving regional leaders, rectors, and medical staff.
Both leaders stressed the importance of sustaining active engagement between their respective governments, parliaments, ministries, and regions. They pledged to continue political dialogue and mutual support within international organizations like the United Nations, the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS), and the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO).
Satisfaction was expressed over the positive momentum in trade and economic cooperation, with trade volume witnessing a notable 15% increase last year. The government aims to surpass the $1bn mark in trade volume in the coming years, bolstered by initiatives such as establishing a joint foreign trade company and enhancing export-import delivery mechanisms.
Furthermore, agreements were reached to facilitate cargo transportation, train international road carriers, and optimize multimodal corridors to access lucrative markets in South Asia. Both countries committed to fostering cooperative ventures, as evidenced by a fourfold increase in joint ventures in recent years.
Priority areas of cooperation were identified, including agriculture, light and food industries, pharmaceuticals, urban development, and communications. Working groups will be formed in each sector to streamline collaboration efforts.
The leaders commended increased interregional exchange and the successful outcomes of the second Uzbekistan-Belarus Regions Forum, where contracts and agreements worth over $1bn were inked.
Cultural and humanitarian exchanges will also be intensified, with partnership programs slated for higher education, professional training, healthcare, culture, sports, and tourism.
Following the discussions, specific proposals were heard, and an agreement was reached to prepare a joint "roadmap" for implementing decisions and signed agreements, underscoring the commitment to further deepen bilateral ties.
Follow Daryo's official Instagram and Twitter pages to keep current on world news.
Comments (0)