President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev hosted the President of the European Council Donald Tusk. Shavkat Mirziyoyev, warmly welcoming the high guest, noted with satisfaction the enhanced political dialogue and productive cooperation with the European Union in the trade and economic, innovation, scientific, technical and cultural-humanitarian fields.
He underscored that this had been the first visit of the President of the European Council to Uzbekistan, and that ıt was the evidence of the mutual desire to expand and strengthen multi-faceted partnership.
Regular meetings of the the Uzbekistan-EU Cooperation Council and Committee, frequent inter-parliamentary exchanges and visits to our country by the EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Federica Mogherini and other high representatives of the European Union are the indication of the enhanced ties.
Negotiations have begun on the draft new Enhanced Partnership and Cooperation Agreement between Uzbekistan and the EU.
The two-way trade and a portfolio of investment projects with the EU countries is growing. Consultations are being held on creating favorable conditions for further increasing trade and investments.
In addition, European partners assist in the issues of Uzbekistan’s accession to the World Trade Organization.
The partnership with the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development has been resumed and expanded, the first joint projects with the EBRD loans have been launched.
Active scientific and educational exchanges are carried out as part of the Horizon 2020 and Erasmus Plus programs.
The meeting focused on issues of further expanding cooperation in trade, innovation and investment, transport, science, education and healthcare.
Donald Tusk emphasized that the ongoing reforms in Uzbekistan aimed at liberalizing the economy open up opportunities for a broader presence of the leading European businesses, actively attracting the latest technologies, advanced experience and high standards to Uzbekistan.
He noted the importance of strengthening cooperation in the region in line with the provisions of the new EU Strategy for Central Asia, and commended Uzbekistan’s efforts to mitigate the consequences of the environmental disaster in the Aral Sea basin. He confirmed his readiness for active cooperation within the framework of the Multi-Partner Trust Fund for the Aral Sea region.
The parties also exchanged views on other topical international and regional issues, including the peaceful settlement of the situation in Afghanistan and underscored the mutual commitment to further strengthening the full-scale partnership and expanding multi-faceted cooperation in the interests of ensuring the stability and sustainable development of the entire region.
