Uzbekistan, Tashkent, April 24 / Trend D. Azizov /
The current status and prospects of bilateral Uzbek-Russian cooperation has been recently discussed by Uzbek Foreign Minister and Russian Ambassador Vladimir Tyurdenev, the Foreign Ministry said today. The parties also discussed the schedule of upcoming contacts at various levels.
Russia and Uzbekistan effectively communicate both bilaterally and at international venues as part of membership of the CIS, SCO, CSTO and other international organisations and associations, including the UN.
The legal base of bilateral cooperation includes over 270 documents, including the treaty on the foundations of interstate relations, friendship and cooperation (1992), treaty on strategic partnership (2004) and the treaty on allied relations (2005). They have the basic principles of bilateral partnership in military, political, economic, trade, transport-communication and humanitarian spheres.
Cooperation in the investment area including the implementation of large scale joint projects in the fuel, energy complex, as well as joint exploration, development of hydrocarbon deposits and transportation through Uzbekistan are of paramount importance in the Russian-Uzbek relations. The total volume of Russian investments for the last six years amounted to more than $5.7 billion.
Russia ranks first among Uzbekistan's trade partners. According to the Uzbek State Statistics Committee, in 2011, bilateral trade increased by 8.9 per cent to $6.68 billion.
About 946 enterprises with Russian capital operate in Uzbekistan, of which 353 have been created during the past three years. About 111 Russian firms and companies have been accredited in the republic. About 410 enterprises with the involvement of Uzbek residents have been established in Russia.