President of Uzbekistan received Prime Minister of the United Arab Emirates

On October 26, 2007 the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan Islam Karimov received the Vice President, Prime Minister of the United Arab Emirates (UAE), the Ruler of Dubai Sheik Muhammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the local agencies reported.

President Islam Karimov said that the similarity of approaches of sides to many international political issues and consistently expanding scales of economic ties witness about comprehensive development of cooperation. Also, all of that testifies to the fact that Uzbekistan attaches a profound significance to the relations with the United Arab Emirates, according to he Uzbek Leader.

Both countries are the reliable partners. And there is an enormous meaning that such high-level meeting in Tashkent has coincided with the 15th anniversary of establishment of diplomatic relations between the countries.

The United Arab Emirates, and in particular, the Emirate of Dubai has received the ISESCO decision to announce Tashkent as the capital of Islamic culture in 2007 with big satisfaction. The book by President Islam Karimov “Uzbekistan on the way of spiritual development” has been published in the UAE in the Arabic language. This stands for a vivid confirmation of the political and spiritual closeness, mutual respect and trust between the two nations, in keeping with the reports.

In accordance with the Resolution of the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan, at the moment the launching of the Uzbekistan Embassy in the UAE is underway. This also speaks about the mutual interest of the two states to comprehensively extend ties.

The economic cooperation also sees its rise. Since 1992 the Uzbekistan Airways Air Company has been undertaking flights along the route Tashkent – Sharja – Tashkent. Yet the sides are intensively developing the partnership in the sphere of tourism.

In 2006 the volume of trade between Uzbekistan and the UAE accounted for 112,4 million dollars. Uzbekistan mostly exports the non-ferrous metals, silk, fabrics, as well as transports air cargo and passengers. At the same time, it imports rubber and Indian rubber, clothing, household techniques, construction materials, furniture and transports.

There are 66 joint ventures with participation of the UAE investment now operating in Uzbekistan. Almost half of them have been established fully on the UAE capital.

Uzbekistan and the UAE enjoy much experience of operations in the oil and gas industry as well as the petrochemical sphere. Therefore, the two sides may well cooperate in these areas, as well.

This year Uzbekistan and the United Arab Emirates established contacts in the framework of Arab Coordination Group. In July 2007 the Group held its meeting in Tashkent, which saw the consideration of over 20 projects of Uzbekistan in the sphere of education, health, agriculture and water economy, energy, chemical industry, public utilities, construction and metallurgy. Also, several documents were inked in Tashkent.

Yet there are big opportunities to extend ties in humanitarian sphere, as well. The Abu Raikhan Beruniy Institute of Oriental Studies at the Academy of Sciences of Uzbekistan closely cooperates with the Juma Al Majidi Dubai Cultural Center in studying the antique manuscripts.

In Oksaroy Residence in Tashkent Sheik Muhammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum thanked the President for the sincere welcome. He has said that his country supports expansion of cooperation with Uzbekistan that plays an important role in the development of Islamic civilization and enjoys enormous economic potential.