Putin to meet Uzbek counterpart amid 3rd foreign visit since re-election

By Burc Eruygur

ISTANBUL (AA) - Russian President Vladimir Putin on Monday will meet with his Uzbek counterpart Shavkat Mirziyoyev amid a third foreign visit since being re-elected for a fifth term in office during a presidential election in March.

The Kremlin reported that Putin and Mirziyoyev attended an official welcoming ceremony at the Kuksaroy Presidential Palace in the Uzbek capital Tashkent, after which they took a joint photograph before starting negotiations.

Putin and Mirziyoyev’s meeting will begin with negotiations in a narrow and expanded format, it said, during which they will discuss the current state and prospects for further developing Russian-Uzbek relations and exchange views on current regional issues.

“Following the visit, it is expected that a substantial package of bilateral documents will be signed,” the Kremlin added.

Putin arrived at the Uzbek capital on a two-day visit late Sunday, marking his third visit abroad since winning another six-year term in office. He previously visited China on May 16-17 and Belarus on May 23-24.

On Putin’s arrival, the two heads of state visited the New Uzbekistan Park, where the Russian president laid a wreath at the Independence Monument located in the park.​​​​​​​