Russia and Uzbekistan have signed more than 20 cooperation documents to expand bilateral cooperation in various sectors. The signed documents include roadmaps to increase mutual trade, cooperation in the field of culture.
Russian media reports say delegations of Russia and Uzbekistan approved 27 agreements during Russian President Vladimir Putin's visit to Tashkent, and the presidents of the countries also signed a joint statement.
The signing of agreements was held in the presence of the heads of both countries.
TASS reports that the signed documents include roadmaps to increase mutual trade, cooperation in the field of culture, agreements for Russia to provide technical assistance to Uzbekistan and for joint research, movie production, memorandums of understanding on cooperation in machine and aircraft building.
The parties also signed agreements to provide for Bauman Moscow State Technical University and the All-Russian Academy of Foreign Trade to open branches in Uzbekistan. As planned, documents were signed to build a Russian-designed nuclear power plant in Uzbekistan.
Following the signing ceremony, Putin reportedly said that Russia is ready to go to any length to ensure the successful completion of the project.
According to Russian RT channel, Russian president praised the bilateral relations, stating that conducive conditions for direct investment have been provided thanks to the implementation of previous agreements at the highest level.
He added that nearly 3,000 companies are operating in Uzbekistan with Russian capital participation.
Putin also noted that several major infrastructure projects are being developed in priority sectors in Uzbekistan, such as the copper processing plant.
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.
The project envisions building six reactors with the total capacity of 330 megawatts.
According to RIA Novosti, the two countries were earlier discussing building a nuclear power plant of a larger capacity — of 2.4 gigawatts.
Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev reportedly hailed the project as “vital” in remarks after the talks, noting that Uzbekistan has “its own large reserves of uranium.”
Putin, in turn, vowed to “do everything in order to work effectively on Uzbekistan’s (nuclear energy) market.”
If the agreement is implemented, the plant would become the first in Central Asia, further increasing Russia’s influence in the region.
Putin also promised to increase gas deliveries to Uzbekistan.
Although its own gas production remains substantial at about 50 billion cubic meters a year, Uzbekistan struggles to fully meet domestic demand, and Russian supplies have allowed it to avert an energy crisis.
Russian leader 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.
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 Tashkent and Moscow.
Putin arrived in Tashkent on a two-day state 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.
The Russian leader has travelled abroad only infrequently since the start of Moscow’s so-called “special military operation” in Ukraine.
The International Criminal Court issued a warrant for his arrest last March on suspicion of illegally deporting hundreds of children from Ukraine. The Kremlin denies those allegations.
