Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) -- An intergovernmental agreement on air traffic between Uzbekistan and Qatar was signed today at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs as part of an official visit of the Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Qatar Sheikh Muhammad bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani to Uzbekistan.

The agreement was signed from the Uzbek side by the Minister of Foreign Affairs Abdulaziz Kamilov, with the Qatari side - by the Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Foreign Affairs Sheikh Muhammad bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani.

The agreement envisages the organization of air traffic, the designation of airlines that will be given the right to operate flights, the determination of destinations, the recognition of certificates and licenses, and the regulation of airline representative offices in two countries.

According to the provisions of the document, the designated airlines on each side will have the appropriate rights to land at the agreed addresses on the territory of the second state and fly through their territory without landing.

The agreement provides that for the development of air communication between Uzbekistan and Qatar, airlines will be provided with benefits on a reciprocal basis to ensure regular flights and exemption from customs duties, taxes and other fees.

In addition, the document sets out the rules for ensuring aviation security and settling possible disputes between the aviation organizations of the two countries, and other conditions for cooperation.

The document will give a positive impetus to the further development of bilateral cooperation, open up new prospects for the further expansion of trade and economic ties between the two countries and will contribute to the formation of a mutually beneficial air transportation market.

Recall that the delegation headed by Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Qatar Sheikh Muhammad bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani met with the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Uzbekistan Abdulaziz Kamilov during his visit to Tashkent. The parties exchanged views on the current state and prospects of cooperation between Uzbekistan and Qatar. Topical issues of the bilateral and regional agenda were discussed.

For information, on April 6-7 this year in Tashkent, representatives of the aviation administrations of the two countries held negotiations on the further development of cooperation between Uzbekistan and Qatar in the field of civil aviation.

The negotiations were attended by representatives of the Civil Aviation Department of Qatar, the Ministry of Transport of Uzbekistan, the Uzaviation agency and the authorized airlines of the parties - Uzbekistan Airways JSC and Qatar Airways.

The meeting discussed issues of establishing direct flights between Uzbekistan and Qatar, completing work on a draft bilateral intergovernmental agreement on air communications, establishing cooperation between Uzbekistan Airways and Qatar Airways, and other issues.