Opinions & Interviews

TASHKENT, 13 September (BelTA) - Belarus-Uzbekistan relations have exceeded all the expectations in the past two years, Uzbekistan President Shavkat Mirziyoyev said as he met with his Belarusian counterpart Alexander Lukashenko on 13 September, BelTA has learned.

In his words, the last meeting between the two leaders took place in Samarkand two years ago. Then the parties agreed on the official visit of the Belarusian head of state to Uzbekistan.

“Belarus is our close friend and reliable partner. I think that over the last 1.5-2 years our relations in all the sectors have exceeded all the expectations. This shows what can be done if there is will and intention from the country's leadership,” Shavkat Mirziyoyev said.

According to Uzbekistan’s president, the bilateral trade considerably increased in 2017. The growth in 2018 continues. “This demonstrates that we, two states and two peoples, have missed each other for some time,” he added. In his words, the trade between the two states can reach $1 billion in the future.

Shavkat Mirziyoyev invited Belarus to develop cooperation in agriculture, light industry, and oil and gas sector. He also took note of the importance to develop military-technical cooperation. “When we cooperate in this sector, this speaks a lot. This means trust and our security,” the Uzbekistan president said.

The Uzbek leader also took note of a big potential in regional cooperation. “I spoke to every governor after their trips to Belarus. They have big plans for cooperation,” said Shavkat Mirziyoyev.

As for cultural relations, he said that not long ago the bust to Yakub Kolas was unveiled in the center of Tashkent. There are plans to name one of the streets after the Belarusian poet who lived in Uzbekistan during the war. “He wrote a lot about Uzbek people. During those difficult times he lived in Uzbekistan with his family. He knew Uzbeks very well. Many people in Uzbekistan know and like his works very much,” the president of Uzbekistan added.