Uzbekistan, Tashkent, July 2 / Trend D. Azizov /
A delegation of the U.S. Congress will visit Uzbekistan in the near future, U.S. Ambassador to Uzbekistan George Krol said at a meeting on the occasion of celebrating the 236th anniversary of the country's independence. George Krol's statement was disseminated by the U.S. Embassy on Monday.
"A large delegation of the U.S. Congress will arrive in Tashkent in a few days," head of the U.S. diplomatic mission said. He has not voiced the exact date of the delegation's arrival, or its programmed schedule of its stay in Uzbekistan.
"This year we celebrate not only the 236th anniversary of U.S independence, but the 20th anniversary of establishing diplomatic relations between our two countries," the ambassador said.
Krol said that we have witnessed the development and intensification of relations in many fields - education, trade and investment, cultural and international relations, as well as joint efforts to solve common problems with terrorism, drug trafficking and regional instability for 20 years.
The presidents of both countries are to make high level visits, including two by U.S Secretary of State Clinton to Uzbekistan. In April, a top Uzbek parliamentary delegation visited the U.S. , the ambassador said.
He said that the number of Uzbek citizens visiting and studying in the U.S continues to increase. This fact contributes to more rapprochement and understanding between the two nations.
He recalled that a new plant of General Motors was put into operation in 2011. It is a good sign of the growing economic cooperation between the U.S. and Uzbekistan. The newest Boeing Dreamliner airliner landed Tashkent airport in June 2012, demonstrating the enormous potential for expanding the economic and even global air communication between the U.S. and Uzbekistan.
"We are developing the confidence and reliability by strengthening investments in our common future," Krol said.
The head of the U.S. diplomatic mission stressed that Uzbekistan has made great achievements toward strengthening its independence over the past 20 years.
Diplomatic relations between Uzbekistan and the U.S were established on February 19, 1992.
At present, a legal base between the two countries has more than 60 intergovernmental and interdepartmental agreements.
As of 2011, bilateral trade increased by 36.2 per cent, up to $249.9 million. Uzbek exports increased by 40.7 per cent to $72.3 million, whilst imports from the U.S.up 34.4 per cent to $177.6 million. At present, about 241 enterprises with the participation of U.S. investors have been registered in the country. The representatives of 64 U.S. companies have been accredited.
In September 2011 the U.S. Congress decided to lift restrictions on military aid to Uzbekistan, introduced in 2004, in response to the agreement to facilitate the withdrawal of U.S. military equipment and personnel from Afghanistan.