Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) -- Head of the Mission of the Republic of Uzbekistan to the European Union, Dilyor Khakimov and the Ambassador of Uzbekistan to Germany, Nabijon Kasimov, held a video conference with Vice-President of the European Parliament Rainer Wieland, representing the European People’s Party (EPP), Dunyo news agency reported.

During the conversation, the current state and prospects for the development of Uzbek-European relations, which are traditionally friendly, were examined.

Mr. Wieland noted that the European side attaches particular importance to cooperation with Uzbekistan, which plays a key role in Central Asia. Evidence of the parties’ mutual interest in furthering the partnership is the visit to the republic of EPP leader Donald Tusk, who last year visited Tashkent as head of the European Council and held a fruitful meeting with President of the Republic of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev.

The European MP supported the desire of Uzbekistan to become a full member of the World Trade Organization and expressed its readiness to provide the necessary assistance in this direction.

He also confirmed his readiness to provide comprehensive support in the process of the republic’s joining the “GSP +” General System of Preferences, which will facilitate access for a wide range of Uzbek products to the European market.

The interlocutor agreed with the need to study, based on the epidemiological situation in the world due to the coronavirus pandemic, the organization of the meeting of the Uzbekistan-EU Parliamentary Cooperation Committee in Brussels this year and the visit of the EPP delegation to Tashkent to meet with Uzbek partners.

Following the meeting, the parties agreed on a number of joint activities in Brussels, including a long-term contact plan.