UPDATE - Russia, Uzbekistan sign 27 documents to expand bilateral cooperation in various sectors

UPDATES WITH REVISED HEADLINE, SPOT, LEDE; ADDS REMARKS BY RUSSIAN AND UZBEK PRESIDENTS FOLLOWING BILATERAL TALKS

By Burc Eruygur

ISTANBUL (AA) – Moscow and Tashkent on Monday signed 27 documents aimed at expanding bilateral cooperation in various sectors at a ceremony attended by visiting Russian President Vladimir Putin and his Uzbek counterpart Shavkat Mirziyoyev.

The signing ceremony took place at the Kuksaroy Presidential Palace in the Uzbek capital of Tashkent, following a meeting between Putin and Mirziyoyev that was held both in a narrow and expanded format.

The two countries signed 27 documents agreeing to expand cooperation in various fields such as trade, culture, tourism, health, transportation, aviation, higher education, and energy, as well as a contract to build a low-power nuclear power plant in Uzbekistan.

Following the ceremony, Putin said his country is ready to go to any length to ensure the successful completion of the project.

He said Russia's state-owned nuclear energy company Rosatom is building at least 20 power units abroad using modern Russian technologies, with contracts signed for six more.

He added that work is currently underway to expand the capacity of the Central Asia-Center gas pipeline system, with the goal of increasing gas supply to Uzbekistan to 11 billion cubic meters by 2025.

There are good prospects for hydropower cooperation between the two countries, the president said, adding that the construction of two storage power plants by Russian specialists is also on the agenda.

Putin described his talks with Mirziyoyev as "constructive" and "very useful."

Mirziyoyev, for his part, described Putin's visit to Uzbekistan as "historic," saying it marks the beginning of a "new milestone in the relations of comprehensive strategic partnership and alliance" between Moscow and Tashkent.

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.​​​​​​​