Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) -- Russia is one of the leading trade partners of Uzbekistan, ranking second in its foreign trade turnover. This was stated by Russian President Vladimir Putin during his speech at the II Forum of Interregional Cooperation between Russia and Uzbekistan.

“I believe that such a bilateral format is important, extremely in demand not only for the development of ties between the constituent entities of the Russian Federation and regions of Uzbekistan, but also for strengthening our entire strategic partnership, which is distinguished by its depth and intensity, is truly multifaceted,” he noted. Putin.

According to him, Russia is one of the leading trade partners of Uzbekistan, ranking second in its foreign trade turnover. Even in a pandemic, our economic interaction continues to evolve. In 2020, trade increased by almost 16 percent and came close to the US$6 billion mark, and in the first nine months of this year, its growth amounted to more than six percent.

“Much credit for this belongs precisely to interregional cooperation. Among the Russian regions that maintain active economic ties with Uzbek partners are Moscow, St. Petersburg, Tatarstan, Chelyabinsk, Moscow, Ivanovo and Samara regions. Examples of mutually beneficial cooperation in recent years include the construction of the Tashkent Metallurgical and Kandym Gas Processing Plants, the opening of an enterprise in Uzbekistan with the participation of Rostselmash for the production of harvesters, "the head of the Russian Federation said.

“Russia is one of the main investors in the economy of Uzbekistan. More than 150 joint projects are currently under way, with an estimated total value of over US$14 billion. The number of enterprises created with the participation of Russian capital has increased 2.5 times over the past four years and exceeded two thousand,” he added.

“I would like to note, in particular, that following the results of the INNOPROM. Big Industrial Week in Uzbekistan ", which was attended by 13 Russian regions, signed 21 agreements worth about US$130 million," Putin said.

“We, of course, welcome the mutual interest of our Uzbek friends in intensifying ties with Russian partners. This is evidenced by the fact that in the last two months alone, delegations from Uzbekistan have visited 20 Russian regions. And the potential for such cooperation is far from being exhausted. There are huge opportunities for the implementation of new projects of direct cooperation, the creation of production chains in industry, agriculture, pharmaceuticals, innovative technologies,” the President added.

“Good prospects for further deepening interaction would be opened by a closer connection of Uzbek partners to the work of the Eurasian Economic Union. At the end of last year, Uzbekistan has already received the status of an observer in our integration association, and we are confident that this will bring real benefits both to the Uzbek side and to all other member states of the Eurasian Economic Community,” the President of the Russian Federation said.

“Of course, interregional ties are not limited only to the sphere of economy and trade. A solid experience of cooperation in the field of environmental protection, water and forestry, biodiversity, and specially protected natural areas has been accumulated. Joint projects are being implemented to resolve acute environmental problems of the Aral Sea, to support the socio-economic development of the entire Aral Sea region,” said Vladimir Putin.

“Between Russia and Uzbekistan, contacts in the humanitarian field are actively expanding, scientific, educational and youth exchanges are increasing. These and many other important issues are discussed during the Second Educational Forum of Russia and Uzbekistan, taking place these days at the Lomonosov Moscow State University. By the way, there are 14 branches and representative offices of Russian universities in the republic. Starting next year, there will be 16 of them, and a branch of St. Petersburg State University will open in Tashkent. A number of projects are also being prepared to improve the quality of teaching the Russian language in kindergartens and schools in Uzbekistan,” he said.

Putin expressed confidence that the Forum of Regions will bring concrete practical benefits in terms of further comprehensive development of the Russian-Uzbek strategic partnership and alliance, strengthening good-neighborly and mutually beneficial ties between our states for the benefit of the peoples of Russia and Uzbekistan.