TASHKENT, Uzbekistan, November 15. The U.S. Department of State is allocating $500,000 through the Ambassador's Fund for Cultural Preservation to conserve architectural sites at Registan Square in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, Trend reports.
This was announced during the fourth annual U.S.-Uzbekistan Strategic Partnership Dialogue (SPD) in Washington, D.C.
U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asian Affairs Donald Lu and Uzbekistan's Deputy Foreign Minister Muzaffar Madrahimov participated in the dialogue.
Both sides emphasized the importance of continuing close consultations and noted new areas of cooperation, including the production of critical minerals and the modernization of natural gas infrastructure in Uzbekistan.
The parties also exchanged views on regional issues, such as strengthening constructive partnerships within the C5+1 diplomatic format. It was also highlighted that the U.S. highly appreciated Uzbekistan's signing of the Customs Mutual Assistance Agreement in September, which was an important step forward in bilateral cooperation in the customs sector.
Assistant Secretary Lu and Deputy Foreign Minister Madrahimov confirmed their intention to hold the first Dialogue on Expanded Strategic Partnership in Tashkent in 2025.
Relations between the USA and Uzbekistan improved slightly in the latter half of 2007, but the U.S. continues to call for Uzbekistan to meet all of its commitments under the March 2002 Declaration of Strategic Partnership between the two countries. The declaration covers not only security and economic relations but political reform, economic reform, and human rights. Uzbekistan has Central Asia's largest population and is vital to U.S., regional, and international efforts to promote stability and security.
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