UAE-Uzbekistan ties enter new phase

Dubai: His Highness Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, on Tuesday received President Islam Karimov of Uzbekistan and his accompanying delegation.

The leaders stressed their keenness to bolster bilateral ties and cooperation in all fields, and open up new channels of communication between the people of both countries.

President Karimov expressed his pleasure at visiting the UAE and meeting with Shaikh Mohammad.

Shaikh Mohammad hosted a lunch banquet in honour of President Karimov and his accompanying delegation, and later took on a tour of Dubai's architectural landmarks.

Earlier in Abu Dhabi, President Karimov was received by Lieutenant General Shaikh Saif Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Minister of Interior, and they discussed bilateral relations and issues of common interest.

Karimov visited the tomb of the late Shaikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan accompanied by Shaikh Saif.

Later in Dubai, the Uzbek leader left, ending a two-day official to the UAE and was seen off at the Dubai airport by Shaikh Mohammad and shaikhs and senior officials

Present at the talks were Shaikh Hamdan Bin Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Dubai Crown Prince, Shaikh Maktoum Bin Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Dubai Deputy Ruler, Shaikh Ahmad Bin Saeed Al Maktoum, President of Dubai Civil Aviation Authority and Chairman and CEO of Emirates Group, and other Shaikhs and senior officials.

Karimov signed a number of cooperation agreements and memorandum of understandings in the fields of economy, commerce, investment, security, tourism and environment.

At the end of the visit, a joint communiqué was issued. Based on the relations between the two countries, President His Highness Shaikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan and Karimov agreed to widen avenues of cultural cooperation, especially in education and tourism. The visit marks a new stage of joint cooperation in all fields.

The two sides signed seven agreements and memorandums in joint cooperation in security, economic and financial fields.

An agreement on security cooperation to fight terrorism and crimes was signed by Shaikh Saif.

Another agreement on cooperation in economic and commercial activities, was signed by Shaikha Lubna Al Qasimi, Minister of Foreign Trade, and Rustom Azimov, Uzbekistan's Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance.

The second agreement related to cooperation in financial and investment issues was signed by Obaid Humaid Al Tayer, Minister of State for Financial Affairs, and Ganiev Elyar, Uzbek Minister of Foreign Economic Relations. The agreements will pave the way to enhance the economic and commercial ties between the two countries.

Uzbek President praised the wise policy of Shaikh Khalifa in achieving security, and the well being of his people, as well as his balanced foreign policy to solve regional and international issues via peaceful means.