Russia-Uzbekistan trade up 40% to US$4.2 billion in 2007

Farit Mukhametshin said the main fields of cooperation included trade, energy, the food industry, finance, ferrous and non-ferrous metallurgy, the pharmaceutical industry, and other spheres.

"The number of joint ventures set up in Uzbekistan with Russian investments is over 500," Mukhametshin said.

The ambassador also said Russia and Uzbekistan had effectively collaborated in social, cultural, educational, humanitarian and other fields.

In 2006, mutual trade between the two former Soviet republics was around US$3 billion.