President Shavkat Mirziyoyev, Picture by Presidency of Uzbekistan.
Friday, 12 March 2021, Tashkent-Berlin: President of the Republic of Uzbekistan, Shavkat Mirziyoyev held a digital meeting with German Chancellor Dr. Angela Merkel.
Germany has been active in promoting international initiatives on overcoming the pandemic consequences, providing extensive practical assistance to the countries of the world, including Uzbekistan.
In particular, with assistance from Germany through the COVAX Initiative, the first major shipment of vaccines against corona virus will arrive in Uzbekistan by the end of March. In addition, close collaboration has been established with the Robert Koch Institute, a leading European research centre for the study of infectious diseases.
The agenda of the summit between the leaders of Uzbekistan and Germany has included issues of further expanding multi-faceted cooperation between the two nations in the face of intensifying crisis developments in the world brought about by the complicated epidemiological situation.
The President of Uzbekistan and German Chancellor noted with great satisfaction that the joint execution of agreements reached during summit meetings in Berlin two years ago has been ensuring sustainable dynamics in bilateral relations.
President Shavkat Mirziyoyev expressed gratitude to the Federal Government of Germany for its unwavering support for the new course of democratic transition and for the expansion of financial and technical assistance programs for socioeconomic reforms in the republic.
Particular attention has been paid to issues of economic interaction. Germany has traditionally been Uzbekistan’s key technological and investment partner.
Over the past years, trade turnover has increased by 1.5 times, and some 50 new joint ventures have been created. Renowned German companies such as MAN, Claas, Knauf and Papenburg have been active in Uzbekistan. Volkswagen and Viessmann have entered the market for the first time, and Siemens and Bosch have returned after a long break. Last year, German companies invested over 700 million dollars in the Uzbek economy.
The sides agreed to support joint projects, business contacts and initiatives, as well as to expand the activity of leading German companies and banking institutions in Uzbekistan.
The Uzbek-German Business Council is to hold another meeting in May to discuss new directions of cooperation, primarily in the development of industrial clusters, digitisation and green economy and promotion of renewable energy projects.
It has been agreed to continue cooperation in Uzbekistan’s accession to the World Trade Organisation, as well as in constructive dialogue with the European Union, including the early completion of the Enhanced Partnership and Cooperation Agreement.
The two officials stressed the importance of deepening cooperation in such priority areas as human rights and freedoms, fight against corruption, and gender equality.
In the sphere of humanitarian exchange, the sides backed an initiative to expand German language studies in Uzbekistan and adopt a relevant state programme.
The President of Uzbekistan and German Chancellor further exchanged views on current international agenda and interaction within global and regional bodies.
Our country’s policy of bolstering relations of friendship, good-neighbourliness, confidence and partnership in Central Asia has been backed. Highly appreciative were the efforts made to promote the peace process in Afghanistan and regional infrastructure projects in transport and energy sectors to this end.
At the conclusion of talks, President Shavkat Mirziyoyev invited Federal Chancellor Angela Merkel to visit Uzbekistan.
Saturday, 6 March 2021 marked 29 years of diplomatic relations between German and Uzbekistan. Ambassador Nabijon Kasimov and his team organised previously various top level meetings at the German Foreign Office to discuss the intensification of bilateral ties.
For further information
Presidency of Uzbekistan: https://president.uz/ru/lists/view/4226?fbclid=IwAR3xYL0X0nlNLxHnSUozL2I2ayKgGfedogGoIRusUuER4Ytq7saTR6-fKrE
Federal German Chancellorship: https://www.bundeskanzlerin.de/bkin-de/aktuelles/bundeskanzlerin-merkel-spricht-mit-dem-usbekischen-praesidenten-schawkat-mirsijojew-1876238
Embassy of Uzbekistan in Germany (HE Ambassador Nabijon Kasimov): http://www.uzbekistan.de/frontend/web/page/87#
