OREANDA-NEWS. On September 02, 2008 Chairman of the Russian Government Vladimir Putin held talks with Prime Minister of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev in Tashkent, reported the Official website www.investuzbekistan.uz.

The sides discussed the current state and perspectives of economic relations between Uzbekistan and Russia, in particular, long-term cooperation in the fuel and energy complex.

Emphasizing that Uzbekistan is one of the most important partners of Russia in Central Asia, Vladimir Putin noted that Russia was interested in expanding and strengthening bilateral relations with the country.

Economic cooperation between Uzbekistan and Russia has been developing in virtually all directions, in particular, in airplane and machinery building, transport and telecommunications, healthcare, pharmaceutics, food industry, timber industry, agriculture, energy and electrical engineering.

In 2007, the volume of mutual trade turnover grew by 48% and amounted to USD 4.2 billion. Along with raw materials, Uzbekistan supplies equipment, cars, food products, cotton fiber, ferrous and nonferrous metals, plastics and other products. Russia exports to Uzbekistan cars, metal processing and paper products.

In Uzbekistan there are more than 500 joint ventures set up in collaboration with Russian investors. Among them are companies like Uzelektroapparat-Elektroschit (electrical products), Andijon Cable, Hi-Tech Cable, Wim-Bill-Dan-Tashkent (dairy products), Baltimor-Chelak (canned products), Elimpex (textile industry), Elektroizolit (construction materials), Petromaruzgaz (chemical products). 145 Russian companies have opened their representative offices in Uzbekistan. In Russia, about 300 joint ventures with Uzbek investments operate.

“Uzbekistan is one of the most important partners of Russia,” Vladimir Putin said. “Russia is paying a particular attention to developing relations with Uzbekistan. We aim to strengthen our relationship, based on the principles of strategic partnership on a maximum range of issues. We appreciate the attention paid by the President of Uzbekistan Islam Karimov to development of cooperation between our countries.”

“We are very pleased with high results of our relationships,” Vladimir Putin continued. “Intensive growth of trade turnover between our countries demonstrates the strengthening economic and investment cooperation. We support further expanding and strengthening of cooperation, long-term partnerships in many areas, especially in the fuel and energy sector.”

After the negotiations, Uzbekistan and Russia signed an intergovernmental plan of action for Economic Cooperation Program for 2008-2012 and the Intergovernmental Space Program to study the Earth and outer space for peaceful purposes.