TASHKENT, 8 February (BelTA) - Uzbekistan has become a gateway for Belarus in Central Asia, Belarusian President Aleksandr Lukashenko said as he met with his Uzbekistan counterpart Shavkat Mirziyoyev in Tashkent on 8 February, BelTA has learned.
The head of state thanked Uzbekistan for the traditionally warm welcome and reverent attitude to Belarusians. “I appreciate it very much. We have absolutely trustworthy, friendly relations. Probably, it cannot be more trustworthy,” the president said.
“We are watching with great interest the transformations that are taking place in Uzbekistan. The only thing you need is time. You have missed a lot of time. Now you need to catch up, and it is not easy to do. The most important thing is that you know where to move. You are developing at an amazing pace,” Aleksandr Lukashenko said. “As your close friends, we always stand by your side, because the Uzbek and Belarusian nations are very similar, hardworking, and tolerant. They are hard workers indeed. This is the basis of our relations.”
“We are happy that Uzbekistan, our brotherly country, is rapidly developing. We are interested in Uzbekistan's development because we consider your country as a gateway in Central Asia,” the Belarusian leader stressed.
