Uzbekistan, Russia launch strategic project
By Abdul Kerimkhanov
Russian president Vladimir Putin, who was on an official visit to Tashkent on October 18-19, held a meeting with his Uzbek counterpart Shavkat Mirziyoyev and participated in the solemn ceremony to launch the construction project of the first nuclear power plant in Uzbekistan.
During the one-on-one meeting, the Mirziyoyev underlined that Russia is a strategic partner of Uzbekistan.
"Our partnership has reached a qualitatively new level and is dynamically developing in all areas. Last year alone, more than 80 high-level visits were made. We have established close cooperation between the regions. For the first time, Tashkent hosts the Forum of Interregional Cooperation between the two countries. More than a 1,000 representatives of the public and business circles of Russia participate in its work," he said.
Mirziyoyev further hailed the progress in trade relations.
"Trade has grown by 30 percent since the beginning of the year. Large investment projects are being implemented,” he said.
The Uzbek head of state also noted with great satisfaction that another strategic project is being launched - the construction of the first nuclear power plant in the republic.
Russian President Vladimir Putin and his colleague Shavkat Mirziyev launched a project to build the first nuclear power plant in Uzbekistan in the video bridge mode.
“In fact, this is not just about building a large industrial facility - this is about creating a new industry in Uzbekistan. Two NPP power units with a total capacity of 2.4 MW will provide low-cost and clean electricity production that is planned to be delivered to consumers , both in Uzbekistan and in other countries of Central Asia, which will contribute to the energy stability not only of Uzbekistan, but also of the entire region," said Putin.
This was the culmination of the state visit of the President of Russia.
The strategic object will be erected with the participation of Rosatom specialists in the Navoi region, where, immediately after the ceremony, engineering surveys began to select the site for the future NPP.
In September 2018, the countries signed an intergovernmental agreement. The project to build a nuclear power plant involves the construction of two units, the first of which is planned to be launched before the end of 2028.
As part of the visit, on October 19, Uzbekistan and Russia signed a Practical Action Plan for the creation of the international research organization International Radio Astronomy Observatory "Suffa".
"A joint project was signed for the development of space research - a super-powerful radio telescope on the Suff plateau. We discussed the implementation of this project with Vladimir Vladimirovich a few months ago, and today we are adopting a road map," noted Shavkat Mirziyoyev.
"I do not rule out the possibility that in the near future a citizen of Uzbekistan will fly on a Russian spacecraft," he added.
Moreover, Uzbekistan and Russia are planning to increase the trade turnover to $ 6 billion, and in the coming years - to $ 10 billion.
"In September, a meeting of the Intergovernmental Commission chaired by the heads of government was successfully held. Cooperation between regions is developing. Large investment projects are being implemented jointly with leading Russian companies and banks. This year, we estimate, the trade turnover will reach $ 6 billion. This figure exceeds our plans. The task for the coming years is $ 10 billion," said Shavkat Mirziyoyev.
Vladimir Putin noted that Uzbekistan is a reliable ally, a strategic partner of Russia. He stressed that after the state visit of the President of Uzbekistan to Russia last year, bilateral contacts in all areas have fundamentally changed for the better, and also expressed the readiness of Russia to further develop relations.
Russia is ready to carry out joint production of military equipment in the territory and at enterprises of Uzbekistan, Russian President Vladimir Putin said during the Uzbek-Russian negotiations in an expanded format.
"We are ready to develop military-technical cooperation, bearing in mind not only the supply of weapons and modern equipment, but also the joint production of this equipment in the territory and enterprises of Uzbekistan. As for deliveries, we have made an exceptional decision. You know deliveries to Uzbekistan are made at Russian domestic prices, " Putin added.
Russia and Uzbekistan are discussing proposals for the formation of the Central Asian energy ring, which would unite the energy system of the region’s states, President Vladimir Putin said.
"The Uzbek partners have received concrete proposals on the formation of the Central Asian energy ring, which would unite the energy system of the states of the region," he stressed.
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