Uzbekistan, Tashkent, Dec. 28 / Trend D.Azizov /
The issues on perspectives development of bilateral cooperation, including priority direction of cooperation in politics, social-economic, investment, scientific-technical and cultural-humanitarian spheres, as well as regional and international issues of mutual interest were mulled at the first round of the Singapore-Uzbekistan political consultations, a source in the government reported.
The parties noted that the state visit of the Uzbek President Islam Karimov to Singapore was positive factor for developing bilateral relations, which laid foundation for developing concrete directions of strengthening legal base for boosting trade-economic investment relations for long-term perspectives.
The talks underlined importance of organization of reciprocal visit of Singapore President Sellapan Ramanathan to Uzbekistan in 2011. It was said that the visit will help to strengthen achieved results and determine new horizons of bilateral interaction.
There were signed an intergovernmental agreement on economic and humanitarian cooperation, air services agreement, a memorandum of understanding between the Ministries of Foreign Affairs to hold bilateral consultations, an agreement between the Uzbek Agency for Standardization, Metrology and Certification and Singapore Board for Standards, Productivity and Innovation on cooperation in standardization, metrology and accreditation, and a Memorandum of Understanding between the Uzbek Commerce and Industry Chamber and the Singapore Business Federation. There was also reached an agreement to launch the consultation process on the conclusion of agreements on avoidance of double taxation.
The sides evaluated cooperation within international structures as the United Nations, Asia Cooperation Dialogue, Asia-Middle East Dialogue, as well as establishing partnership of Uzbekistan and ASEAN.
The sides discussed concrete directions of joint activity on fighting terrorism and drug trafficking, other modern challenges on regional and international level, military-political situation in Afghanistan, preserving peace and stability in Central and Southern-Eastern Asia, as well as problems of protecting environment and regional use of water resources.
The parties noted that the countries have common position on problems of international and regional character, which creates firm foundation for intensification of partnership on other directions.
The delegations underlined necessity of cooperation in creation of Center of innovative activity in Uzbekistan to further boost economic interaction.
The sides positively rated strengthening of trade-economic and investment relations, and noted that the stable growth of trade turnover between countries for last several years is evidence for that. The parties noted business circles are also expanding cooperation due to organization of bilateral business forums, last of which was held in Singapore in November 2010 and it was attended by over 100 Singapore firms.
The Uzbek side highly rated creation and activity of Singapore Management Development Institute, specializing in training personnel for tourism, banking and management.
In January - September 2010, the trade turnover between the two countries exceeded $114 million, including the Uzbek exports to Singapore amounted to $97.4 million, which is higher than the same period in 2009 by almost 3.5 times, imports - $16.8 million.
The sides agreed to hold next round of consultations in Tashkent in 2011.