Uzbekistan considers Qatar ‘promising partner’: President Mirziyoyev

By Burc Eruygur

ISTANBUL (AA) – Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev said on Tuesday that his country considered Qatar as its “promising partner,” as Qatari Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al Thani is on an official visit to Samarkand.

“We consider Qatar as our promising partner not only in the Middle East region, but also in the entire Arab-Muslim world. Thanks to our contacts with you in recent years, there has been a real breakthrough in bilateral relations,” Mirziyoyev said during an expanded meeting with the Qatari emir, a statement by the Uzbek presidency read.

The statement said that the two leaders paid particular attention to developing dialogue and cultural and humanitarian exchanges, as well as building up trade, economic and investment cooperation between Uzbekistan and Qatar.

“An agreement was reached on the participation of leading Qatari companies in the implementation of large investment projects in the energy, gas chemical industry, agriculture, infrastructure, logistics, tourism and other industries worth over $12 billion,” it said.

The statement added that the organization of an Uzbek-Qatari investment forum was proposed for the month of September this year, and that the heads of state stressed the importance of transport and logistics corridors connecting Central Asia with the Gulf.

The two also exchanged views on “building a pragmatic policy towards Afghanistan,” the statement said, adding that the prospects for joint promotion of the implementation of the strategic project to create the Trans-Afghan Railway Corridor were also considered.

Following the meeting, Mirziyoyev and Sheikh Tamim attended a ceremony in which 15 bilateral documents were signed, which focus on further developing and deepening trade, economic, investment, cultural, humanitarian and other areas of cooperation.

Sheikh Tamim is on a regional tour to Central Asia, where he is scheduled to also visit Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan and Tajikistan, respectively.

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