Uzbekistan, Albania Hold Talks on Expanding Cooperation

Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) — Talks were held at the Kuksaroy residence between President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev and President of Albania Bajram Begaj, with participation from official delegations of both countries.

The sides discussed prospects for further strengthening practical cooperation between Uzbekistan and Albania.

At the beginning of the talks, Mirziyoyev noted that the first summit in the history of bilateral cooperation would be historic and would raise relations to a new qualitative level of development.

It was noted that political dialogue between the two countries is intensifying, contacts at various levels are expanding, and mutual support is being provided within international organisations, including the United Nations.

Particular attention was paid to expanding trade and economic cooperation and increasing trade turnover. The sides discussed preparation of a comprehensive cooperation programme covering agriculture, green energy, geology, information technology, digitalisation, and tourism.

The parties also considered the use of the Albanian port of Durres as a logistics hub to expand access for Uzbek products to markets in Southern Europe and the Mediterranean.

The importance of expanding the legal and regulatory framework for trade, economic, and investment cooperation was underlined.

At the conclusion of the talks, an agreement was reached to establish an intergovernmental commission and hold its first meeting in Tashkent later this year.

In the cultural and humanitarian sphere, both sides supported initiatives to organise mutual Days of Culture, film events, exhibitions, and artistic tours.

The two leaders also exchanged views on current regional and international issues.