Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev met US Secretary of State Marco Rubio on October 19. Rubio was in Uzbekistan to attend the ministerial meeting in the C5+1 format and the second meeting of the American-Uzbek Business and Investment Council.
The two sides focused on strengthening their strategic partnership and implementing agreements reached at the highest level. They noted increased cooperation in politics and security, trade and investment, innovation and technology, education and culture.
They praised the latest C5+1 ministerial meeting, which confirmed the US and Central Asian countries’ shared interest in strengthening dialogue and broadening cooperation.
Uzbekistan and the United States are expanding security cooperation, including efforts to combat terrorism, extremism, drug trafficking and illegal migration. Direct dialogue has also been established between the countries’ parliaments and government agencies, while business and academic contacts are growing.
Bilateral trade has risen by 35 percent since the start of the year. Major projects are under way in civil aviation, automobile manufacturing, mining, energy, agriculture, digitalization and finance as part of the Economic Cooperation Programme.
The Business and Investment Council meeting produced new agreements worth $12 billion. The sides also identified prospects for practical cooperation in strategically important minerals, energy, transport, artificial intelligence and digital technologies.
The meeting also covered the schedule and substance of upcoming events involving the two countries’ leaders, as well as current international and regional security issues.
