Tehran, 19 June 2023 (TDI): In a historic meeting between the Leader of the Islamic Revolution, Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei, and Uzbekistan’s President Shavkat Mirziyoyev on June 18, 2023, both leaders emphasized the need to expand relations between the two countries in various sectors.
The meeting highlighted the unparalleled historical, cultural, and scientific affinity that exists between Iran and Uzbekistan, underscoring the potential for further cooperation.
Expressing his satisfaction at the revival of relations after a prolonged hiatus, Ayatollah Khamenei stated, “Unfortunately, for many years, the relations between Iran and Uzbekistan were very limited.”
This trip and the talks held in Tehran will be the beginning of a better future with regard to the relations between the two countries.
He highlighted the Islamic Republic of Iran’s ability to facilitate the connection of Uzbekistan to open waters through Turkmenistan and Afghanistan, opening up avenues for trade and transportation.
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The Leader of the Islamic Revolution emphasized that the areas of cooperation between the two nations extend beyond trade and transit. He suggested that collaboration in science, technology, and other sectors should be explored.
Ayatollah Khamenei acknowledged that there may be opposition to expanding relations between Iran and Uzbekistan, but decisions should be made based on the interests of both countries. He called for the expansion of cooperation to the greatest extent possible.
President Mirziyoyev described the meeting as historic and expressed his regret over the interruption and reduction in cooperation between the two countries. He expressed hope that the talks in Tehran would lead to significant progress and elevate cooperation to the desired level in areas such as trade, transportation, science and technology, and tourism.
President Mirziyoyev commended the Iranian nation for its resilience in the face of sanctions, acknowledging its achievements in science and technology as a testament to the nation’s unity and determination.
Iranian and Uzbek officials signed ten memorandums of understanding covering various fields of cooperation. These agreements encompassed preferential trade, transit and transportation, pharmaceutical industries, standard setting and insurance, examination of common free zones, and executive programs for cooperation in agriculture, technology, and innovation.
The meeting also focused on increasing bilateral trade between Iran and Uzbekistan. Iranian Minister of Industry, Mine, and Trade Abbas Aliabadi and Uzbek counterpart Laziz Kudratov discussed plans to raise annual bilateral trade to $1 billion.
The ministers emphasized the need for infrastructure improvements, including streamlined customs processes, to facilitate increased trade exchanges.
This significant meeting between the leaders of Iran and Uzbekistan marks a milestone in the revitalization of bilateral relations. Both countries are committed to expanding cooperation in various sectors, leveraging their historical and cultural affinity to foster closer ties.
