Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) -- In order to support the efforts of our country in the fight against the spread of coronavirus infection in the republic, the government of the State of Qatar has decided to allocate gratuitous financial assistance to Uzbekistan in the amount of US$200,000 through the Qatar Charitable Organization, Dunyo news agency reported.

In accordance with the decision of the Special Commission of the Republic of Uzbekistan on 20 August, these funds were transferred to the account of the branch of the Republican Scientific Center for Emergency Medical Aid (RSCEMP) in Karakalpakstan. RSCEMP plans to use them to purchase the necessary protective equipment and medical equipment to support emergency measures to mitigate the consequences of the coronavirus pandemic in order to maintain the health of citizens of Karakalpakstan.

In May 2020, through the Qatari "Charitable Foundation of Jasim and Hamad bin Jasim", US$200,000 were transferred to the settlement account of the Mehr-Shafkat Va Salomatlik Foundation of the Ministry of Health of Uzbekistan as gratuitous financial assistance to support the fight against COVID-19.

The Ambassador of the State of Qatar to Uzbekistan Mohammed al-Khajri stressed that "financial assistance is provided to a friendly country in the framework of supporting the efforts of the Uzbek leadership to protect the population from the threat of a pandemic." “This once again proves that Qatar and Uzbekistan are united in their desire to support each other in this difficult time for all,” the ambassador said.

As the head of the Qatari diplomatic mission noted, in recent years, bilateral relations between the two countries have begun to develop successfully thanks to an intensive exchange of delegations and high-level contacts. The Qatari side is ready to make every effort to further expand mutually beneficial trade, economic, investment, financial, technical, cultural and humanitarian cooperation with the Uzbek side.

"The Qatari authorities fully support the large-scale democratic and socio-economic reforms being carried out in Uzbekistan, which are being successfully carried out in the current difficult situation of the pandemic," he concluded.