RIYADH, 3 September 2006 – The Uzbekistan Embassy here celebrated the 15th anniversary of the country’s independence yesterday.
Speaking to Arab News on the occasion, Uzbekistan’s Ambassador Ulugbek Israilov described his country’s relations with the Kingdom as excellent. They have been growing in all fields, including those at the political, economic and cultural levels, he said.
The envoy said the first meeting for political consultation between the two countries is expected to be held in Tashkent next year.
Providing a background to the diplomatic relations between the two countries, he said the foundation was laid in February 1992, when they signed a joint communiqué to establish diplomatic relations during the visit of Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Saud Al-Faisal to Uzbekistan.
This was followed by a return visit of President Islam Karimov to Saudi Arabia in April 1992. This paved the way for strengthening relations between the two nations. Israilov said that last meeting of Saudi–Uzbekistan Joint Economic Committee was held in Riyadh in May 2004. There was ongoing cooperation between businessmen in both countries. “We presented 12 projects to the Saudi Fund for Development in different fields. They are under study.” As for bilateral trade, he said Uzbekistan imports plastics from Saudi Arabia, while it exports fruits and nuts to the Kingdom. “There is good cooperation between the two countries within the framework of cooperation of the Organization of Islamic Conference. In February last year, an official from Uzbekistan led a delegation to the Counterterrorism International Conference held in Riyadh.
In other fields, 5,000 Uzbek pilgrims came for Haj last year, besides 3,000 who came for Umrah. “We have 20 students in the Islamic University of Madinah,” he added.
