President of the Republic of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev has left for Astana today, where he will take part at a meeting of the Council of Heads of the member-states of the State of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization. 

As reported earlier, the Heads of SCO member-states are expected to discuss the current state and prospects of further development of the organization, exchange views on the matters of regional and international politics and consider the issue on the presiding country for 2017-2018. 

Within the realization of the decisions of the SCO Tashkent summit, a procedure of adopting India and Pakistan as member-states of the organization will be completed in Astana. 

The President of Uzbekistan will also take part at the official opening ceremony of the international specialized exhibition "Astana EXPO-2017" and will hold several bilateral meetings with heads of foreign delegations.

At a residence reserved for the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan, President Shavkat Mirziyoyev has held a meeting with Prime Minister of Pakistan Nawaz Sharif. At this meeting, attention was directed mainly at the current state of cooperation between the two countries and prospects for its further development and also at issues of strengthening regional security. 

Uzbekistan supported Pakistan's accession to the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO), and when Uzbekistan held the presidency of the SCO this country paid special attention to this issue. 

These two countries are supporting each other in the international arena. Nearly 50 inter-state, intergovernmental and interdepartmental documents have been signed between Uzbekistan and Pakistan in the political, trade-economic and cultural-humanitarian areas. 

Uzbekistan exports cotton fibre, leather, transport and tourism services to Pakistan. 

Pakistan supplies medicines, chemicals and agricultural products to this country. 

President Shavkat Mirziyoyev has said that he is in favour of the further development of multi-faceted mutually beneficial cooperation with Pakistan. 

Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has said that Pakistan is interested in further expanding comprehensive cooperation with Uzbekistan.

At the residence reserved for the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan, President Shavkat Mirziyoyev has held a meeting with President of Afghanistan Ashraf Ghani, within the Astana summit of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO). 

The customs and traditions of the peoples of Uzbekistan and Afghanistan are similar. Good neighbourly relations have been established between these two states, and they have been cooperating effectively with each other in various areas. 

President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev has said that Uzbekistan is in favour of a political solution to the situation in Afghanistan, the ensuring of stability in that country and the development of its economy. 

Uzbekistan exports electricity, fruits and vegetables, oil products and mineral fertilizers to Afghanistan. This country is also taking part in the implementation of projects in such spheres as construction, energy, ore extraction and education. 

President of Afghanistan Ashraf Ghani has said that he highly evaluates Uzbekistan's efforts to help restore stability in Afghanistan, and he has expressed gratitude. 

At the meeting, there was discussion about prospects for the further development of political, trade-economic, transport, cultural and humanitarian relations between the two countries and also about topical issues of regional and international importance. 

Within the frameworks of the SCO summit in Astana, President of the Republic of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev in the allotted residence for him has met with President of the Kyrgyz Republic Almazbek Atambayev. 

Shavkat Mirziyoyev has underlined that this meeting with the President of Kyrgyzstan serves to reinforce and enhance cooperation between our countries, enrich the agreements, reached during the meeting in Samarkand, with a new content. 

Almazbek Atambayev has noted that the fraternal relations of the Uzbek and Kyrgyz nations, common customs and traditions are an important factor in steady development of the mutual cooperation. 

The exchanges between the two countries has increased in recent times. The Heads of State regularly conduct telephone conversations, the governmental and regional delegations are exchanged. The reciprocal visits of the civil society representatives of our countries to Andijan and Osh have been organized. 

The Presidents have discussed the issues of developing the political dialogue and boosting social-economic relations, exchanged views on several regional and international issues of mutual interest.

President of the Republic of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev has met with Prime Minister of the Republic of India Narendra Modi at the SCO summit in Astana. 

The Head of our state has congratulated the Prime Minister of India on the upcoming adoption of India as a full-fledged member of the SCO during the summit. 

Shavkat Mirziyoyev has highlighted that this meeting is a good opportunity to discuss the pace of implementing the agreements, reached during the visit of the Prime Minister of India to our country in 2016 and to determine prospects of further developing bilateral cooperation. 

Narendra Modi expressed sincere gratitude for Uzbekistan's firm support of the membership of India in the SCO. He underlined that this historical event will create principally new opportunities for developing further multifaceted bilateral partnership, allow to enhance regional cooperation in the sphere of security, trade-economic and investment spheres. 

The Prime Minister of India once again has congratulated Shavkat Mirziyoyev on his election as the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan and expressed confidence in further development of the cooperation between our countries, based on mutual trust. 

The parties have discussed the issues of further enhancing relations between Uzbekistan and India. 

It was underscored that a significance is attached to political dialogue. Mutual willingness to further develop contacts on the highest and high levels, regularly conduct political consultations, continue mutual support within the frameworks of international organizations has been re-affirmed. 

The sides have highlighted that in 2016 the trade turnover increased by 15 per cents and reached 366 million US dollars. However, this indicator is far below the potential of the two countries, Uzbekistan and India are able to increase the volumes and diversify the structure of the mutual trade. 

Car parts manufacturing with "Minda" company at the Navoi free economic zone, modern full-cycle enterprises, manufacturing medicines and injection drugs in Surkhandarya and ashkent regions with "Novafarm" and "Ultra Heathcare" companies are successful examples of the investment cooperation. 

The parties have considered the possibilities of joint implementation of prospective projects in such spheres as development of joint software products and manufacturing telecommunications equipment, processing of fruits and vegetables, deep processing of raw silk and leather, manufacturing and exporting finished products, production of wide assortment of car parts, electrotechnical goods, household chemicals and plant protection products. 

Uzbekistan, considering rich experience of India, has expressed interest in establishing long-term cooperation in pharmaceuticals.

UzA