00:01 / 13.03.2021
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Shavkat Mirziyoyev holds meeting by video-conference with German Chancellor Angela Merkel

On March 12, President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev held a video-conference talk with German Chancellor Angela Merkel.

The agenda of the meeting included issues of further expanding multifaceted cooperation between the parties in the context of the current epidemiological situation caused by the pandemic.

The sides noted with satisfaction that the joint implementation of the agreements reached at the summit in Berlin two years ago ensures the steady development of bilateral relations.

Shavkat Mirziyoyev thanked the German government for its unwavering support of the policy of new democratic reforms in Uzbekistan and the expansion of the program of financial-technical assistance to socio-economic reforms in the country.

Special attention was paid to the issues of economic cooperation. Germany is an important technological and investment partner of Uzbekistan.

In recent years, the volume of trade has increased by 1.5 times, about 50 new joint ventures have been established. Well-known German companies such as MAN, Claas, Knauf and Papenburg actively operate in Uzbekistan. Volkswagen and Viessmann entered the domestic market for the first time, and after a long hiatus, Siemens and Bosch returned. Last year, German companies invested more than $700 million in the country’s economy.

At the meeting, it was agreed to support joint projects, business contacts and initiatives, as well as to expand the activities of leading German companies and banking institutions in Uzbekistan.

A regular meeting of the Uzbek-German Business Council is scheduled for May this year to discuss new areas of cooperation, including the digitalization and development of a “green” economy, promoting joint projects in the field of renewable energy.

The parties agreed to continue cooperation on the issue of Uzbekistan’s accession to the World Trade Organization.

It was stressed that it is important to strengthen collaboration in such priority areas as ensuring human rights and freedoms, combating corruption and maintaining gender equality.

The initiative to expand the study of the German language in Uzbekistan and to adopt an appropriate state program in this regard was supported.

The President of Uzbekistan and the Chancellor of Germany also exchanged views on topical issues of international importance and cooperation within global and regional structures.

Uzbekistan’s policy of strengthening friendship, good neighborliness, trust and partnership in Central Asia was supported. Efforts to promote the peace process in Afghanistan and to endorse regional infrastructure projects in the fields of transport and energy were praised.

Following the talks, Shavkat Mirziyoyev invited Angela Merkel to pay a visit to Uzbekistan.

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