Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) -- On 2 June 2020, in Kuala Lumpur, the Ambassador of Uzbekistan Ravshan Usmanov met with the Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation of Malaysia, Khairi Jamaluddin.

During the conversation, priority directions for the further development of the Uzbek-Malaysian cooperation were discussed.

The Malaysian side highly appreciated the large-scale reforms carried out in Uzbekistan aimed at further liberalization and modernization of the economy, the development of science, technology and innovation.

An exchange of views took place on measures taken in Uzbekistan and Malaysia against the spread of coronavirus. The parties expressed their willingness to cooperate in this direction, including in the field of the development of drugs and vaccines against COVID-19.

The necessity of practical implementation of the Memorandum of Cooperation between the governments of the Republic of Uzbekistan and Malaysia in the field of science and technology, signed by the parties on November 17, 2008, is noted. In particular, the Malaysian side expressed interest in conducting joint research in the field of medicine, pharmaceuticals, nano- and biotechnologies and other areas of mutual interest, as well as supporting promising startups.

Following the negotiations, the following agreements were reached:

- the organization in the second half of June of a videoconference between experts in the field of health and science to exchange best practices in the fight against coronavirus and discuss issues of joint cooperation in the development of drugs and vaccines against “COVID-19”;

- the signing of a Memorandum of Cooperation between the Ministry of Justice of the Republic of Uzbekistan and the Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation of Malaysia in the field of forensic medical examination.