TASHKENT, 8 February (BelTA) - Official talks between Belarusian President Aleksandr Lukashenko and Uzbekistan President Shavkat Mirziyoyev are taking place in Tashkent, BelTA has learned.
The two leaders have met at Kuksaroy Complex, the current state residence of the president of Uzbekistan. It was named in honor of Kuksaroy - Tamerlane's palace in Samarkand, the capital of his empire, which has not survived to this day.
According to protocol practice, the talks were preceded by ceremonial events featuring the guard of honor company. Following the ceremonial welcome to the Belarusian president, with the national anthems of both countries played, the heads of state greeted their delegations and headed to the palace for a photo ceremony. Traditionally, the presidents first hold one-on-one talks, and then members of the two delegations join them.
The talks will focus on deepening interstate relations, intensifying trade, economic, cultural and humanitarian cooperation. The parties will pay special attention to the development of cooperation ties in various industries, interaction in agriculture, science, education and tourism.
Aleksandr Lukashenko and Shavkat Mirziyoyev are also set to discuss the regional and global agenda, interaction between the two countries in integration structures and in the international arena.
Ahead of the Belarusian president’s visit, Tashkent played host to the second Forum of Regions of Belarus and Uzbekistan. The parties signed more than 20 contracts and agreements worth $80 million.
The president of Belarus paid official visits to Uzbekistan in 1994 and 2018, and was on working visits there in 2016 (twice) and 2022. In 2014 and 2019, the president of Uzbekistan paid official visits to Belarus.
In 2018-2022, trade between the two countries increased 3.2 times. In 2023, mutual trade grew by another 12% to exceed $565 million.
