Samarkand (TDI): German Chancellor Olaf Scholz called on Uzbekistan President Shavkat Mirziyoyev in Uzbekistan’s second-largest city of Samarkand to discuss bilateral ties.
The German Chancellor is on a two-day official visit to Uzbekistan at the invitation of President Mirziyoyev.
According to a statement from the Uzbek President’s office on Sunday, the two dignitaries discussed ways to explore collaboration on the country’s abundant natural resources.
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During the official visit, both countries signed eight bilateral agreements in the fields of migration, veterinary medicine, sustainable water resource management, transport, and climate change, it added.
Scholz emphasised the same when he held a roundtable discussion with business leaders of Uzbekistan in the historic city of Samarkand.
He said Germany was interested in “utilising and developing” Uzbekistan’s raw materials for the mutual benefit of both countries.
The German Chancellor said he was impressed with the significant growth in Uzbekistan’s economy and its strides in modernization.
In a statement following the meeting, the Uzbek Presidency said the German companies were likely to develop and export Uzbekistan’s natural resources as a “promising area” for enhancing bilateral relations.
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Addressing concerns about the potential for trade ties to be used as a way to bypass international sanctions on Russia, Scholz assured that both nations would ensure their cooperation complies with international regulations.
“It is important that we regularly exchange information to ensure that our trade is not used to circumvent internationally applicable rules,” he said.
Earlier, the two sides also signed an agreement on the entry of skilled labour from the Central Asian nation to Germany, as well as the return of some immigrants.
