Abdulaziz Kamilov takes part in a meeting of the Uzbekistan-EU Cooperation Council

Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) -- On 22 November 2018, a government delegation of the Republic of Uzbekistan headed by Foreign Minister Abdulaziz Kamilov, visiting Brussels, took part in the 14th meeting of the Uzbekistan-European Union Cooperation Council.

The European Union was represented by a delegation led by the Federal Minister for European Affairs, Integration and Foreign Affairs of Austria Karin Kneissl, , whose country currently holds the rotating European Union presidency.

The sides exchanged views on key issues on the bilateral agenda, discussed priorities for further development of cooperation in the political, trade, economic, cultural, humanitarian and other fields, the press service of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Uzbekistan said in a statement.

The affinity or coincidence of positions and assessments on almost all the discussed topics, interest in the further development of mutually beneficial partnership on a long-term basis were confirmed.

At the meeting, an agreement was reached on commencement of negotiations on an expanded partnership and cooperation agreement between Uzbekistan and the European Union on 23 November, which will replace the Agreement on partnership and cooperation between the Republic of Uzbekistan and the European Communities and their member states in force from 1 July 1999.

The European side confirmed its readiness to assist Uzbekistan in joining the World Trade Organization.

The parties also discussed selected international and regional issues. In particular, the parties agreed to actively cooperate in the promotion of a peaceful settlement in Afghanistan.