Uzbekistan, UK sign declaration on ‘comprehensive cooperation’

By Burc Eruygur

ISTANBUL (AA) - Uzbekistan and the UK on Tuesday signed a declaration on comprehensive cooperation between the two countries, amid a visit by British Foreign Secretary David Cameron to the Central Asian country.

A statement by the Uzbek Foreign Ministry said that Cameron held talks with his counterpart Bakhtiyor Saidov in the capital Tashkent, during which they outlined “key tasks aimed at strengthening bilateral relations across all domains.”

Describing the conversation between Saidov and Cameron as “fruitful and insightful,” the statement further said that the primary focus of the talks was centered on bolstering economic ties.

“The sides expressed desire to foster more direct business-to-business ties and educational collaboration,” the statement also said.

It added that aside from the declaration on comprehensive cooperation, the ministers also signed a memorandum of understanding in the fields of regional and international connectivity and infrastructure.

​​​​​​​On Monday, Cameron embarked on a regional tour to Central Asian countries – Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan – and Mongolia "as part of government ambition to increase engagement with this pivotal region of the world."

Cameron has so far visited the Kyrgyz and Tajik capitals, while the Kazakh Foreign Ministry announced that the British diplomat will visit Astana on April 24-25.​​​​​​​