MOSCOW, October 06, 2023 - Russian President Vladimir Putin and Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev met in the Kremlin to delve into the growing partnership between their nations. The talks centered around further development of bilateral ties, current regional and global concerns, and military-technical collaboration.

At the onset of the discussions, Putin remarked, "Our relations are developing very successfully," reaffirming the high-caliber and nature of their bond as allies. Expressing gratitude to Mirziyoyev for his instrumental role in fostering these ties, Putin underscored the "good dynamics" in all areas of their partnership.

A testament to the burgeoning economic cooperation between the two nations is the notable 26 percent surge in trade turnover in the past year. By the middle of this year, there's already a growth of 14.4 percent. Russia now stands as Uzbekistan's primary trading partner. Putin highlighted the synergy between the two countries, pointing out that "Three thousand companies with Russian participation operate in Uzbekistan, and 700 Uzbek entities function in Russia."

Further testament to their collaboration is evident at the regional level. Numerous regions from both the Russian Federation and Uzbekistan share direct connections, and Putin believes these "colleagues at the regional level make a substantial contribution to the development of interstate relations."

On the global stage, Russia and Uzbekistan actively cooperate within international organizations such as the UN, CIS, and SCO. Putin mentioned collaboration in other "very sensitive areas" which will be topics of discussion in more exclusive meetings.

Mirziyoyev reciprocated the sentiment of strong bilateral ties. "We in Samarkand signed a comprehensive strategic partnership and alliance. This partnership continues to flourish across all sectors, showing tangible results," he remarked.

The day's agenda had Putin and Mirziyoyev first engaging in a one-on-one discussion, followed by talks in an extended format involving their respective delegations. The culmination of this meeting is anticipated to be the signing of pertinent documents and a joint address to the media.

Earlier in the day, as the two leaders exchanged warm greetings, Mirziyoyev articulated Tashkent's keenness to collaborate with Moscow, especially in these challenging times. He reiterated the elevation of their relationship to that of a comprehensive strategic partnership.

The continual strengthening of Russia-Uzbekistan ties suggests a strategic alignment in an ever-evolving geopolitical landscape, promising stability and cooperation in the Central Asian region.