Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov's opening remarks during talks with Foreign Minister of the Republic of Uzbekistan Bakhtiyor Saidov, Moscow,May 22, 2023
22 May 2023 13:55
982-22-05-2023
Mr Saidov,
Friends,
We are glad to welcome you in Moscow.
I would like to express my sincere gratitude once again for the hospitable organisation of our stay in Samarkand, where we held a meeting of the SCO Council of Ministers of Foreign Affairs and organised a series of bilateral meetings. It was a pleasure to meet you personally as Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Uzbekistan.
We began to exchange views in the first approximation on what tasks are facing us at this stage. Today we have a good opportunity to hold full-fledged talks on the development of our strategic partnership and alliance. This is particularly relevant given the current challenges on the world stage. I will not go into detail. Everyone is well aware of this.
As for our bilateral relations, we are pleased to state, as our presidents have done, that ties are developing intensively in all directions, despite the sanctions restrictions. In 2022, trade grew by 26 percent, approaching $9 billion. We see a positive trend in trade this year: in January-February, we had an increase of more than 4 percent compared to the same period in 2022.
Among the priorities is cooperation in education and science. Today, about 12,000 citizens of Uzbekistan study in Russian universities free of charge at the expense of federal and regional budgets. For the next academic year, 800 quota places are allocated for Uzbek students. We appreciate the attention paid to the Russian language and education in Uzbekistan. You have 14 branches of Russian institutions of higher education.
Cultural cooperation is also important. On an annual basis, we organise events in your country, just as you do in the Russian Federation. This includes concerts and tours, cinematographic and library events, as well as comprehensive exchanges and days of culture. Yesterday Tashkent hosted the opening ceremony of a unique international project, Russian Seasons, at the Alisher Navoi State Academic Bolshoi Theatre, attended by our large delegation.
Speaking of regional issues, we closely cooperate in the CIS and SCO, and develop ties with the Eurasian Economic Union, where Uzbekistan participates as an observer.
I cannot conclude my opening remarks without congratulating you on the successful constitutional reform. The results of the referendum showed support for Shavkat Mirziyoyev's political course. We paid attention to the provisions of the new basic law aimed at strengthening state sovereignty and limiting outside interference in the country's internal affairs. This also fully corresponds to our vision of the principles that are now objectively forming a new just, democratic and multipolar international order.
We know that, in accordance with the new Constitution, President Mirziyoyev has issued an executive order on early presidential elections on July 9. We are convinced that the preparation and conduct of the election campaign will be well organised. For our part, we will create all the conditions to ensure that Uzbek citizens living in the Russian Federation, migrant workers and other compatriots have every opportunity to freely express their will. We work closely with your embassy and other diplomatic institutions of Uzbekistan in the Russian Federation in this regard. We will do our best to make this event a success as well.
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