Uzbekistan has invited Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan and leaders in Central Asia for an international connectivity summit from 15th to 16th July that will take place in the Uzbek capital Tashkent.

The summit named "Central Asia and South Asia regional connectivity: Challenges and opportunities" is being organised as an initiative of Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev. It will have three common themes of discussion--economic, cultural, security--connectivity and aims to refresh historical ties.&nbsp;&nbsp;Leaders and representatives of Russia, Iran, China, the US, and the European Union will also be invited to the summit.

The invitation to India was extended during Uzbek Foreign Minister Abdulaziz Kamilov's New Delhi visit in late February. Kamilov has already visited the capitals of the other four Central Asian countries to extend the invitation. In March, Kamilov had visited Islamabad to hand over the invitation to Khan.

The summit will see a gathering of leaders from South and Central Asia and aims to increase connectivity between the two regions. This is the first such initiative of this kind from Uzbekistan, which is a doubly landlocked country. Uzbekistan, along with Liechtenstein are the only two doubly landlocked countries in the world.

Uzbekistan has been keen on using the India-built Chabahar port in Iran. Both countries formed the group with Iran for increasing engagement on the port. Afghanistan will be invited for the next meet of the grouping. During the December virtual summit between Indian PM Modi and Uzbek President&nbsp; Mirziyoyev, the latter announced the intention to join International North-South Transport Corridor that connects Mumbai to Moscow.

Uzbekistan is the only Central Asian country with which India has held a virtual summit so far. In strategic space and defence, both sides are increasing engagement. India and Uzbekistan held military exercises Dustlik-2 from 9th to 21st March at Chaubatia, Uttarakhand. On Afghanistan as well, both sides hold regular exchanges.

With other countries in the region, Afghanistan is increasing engagement on connectivity, especially with air corridors and the Chabahar port project backed by New Delhi. A trans-Afghan railway is being planned, with Pakistan, Uzbekistan, and Afghanistan being part of it.

Uzbekistan has invited Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan and leaders in Central Asia for an international connectivity summit from 15th to 16th July that will take place in the Uzbek capital Tashkent.

Uzbekistan has invited Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan and leaders in Central Asia for an international connectivity summit from 15th to 16th July that will take place in the Uzbek capital Tashkent. The summit named "Central Asia and South Asia regional connectivity: Challenges and opportunities" is being organised as an initiative of Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev. It will have three common themes of discussion--economic, cultural, security--connectivity and aims to refresh historical ties. Leaders and representatives of Russia, Iran, China, the US, and the European Union will also be invited to the summit. The invitation to India was extended during Uzbek Foreign Minister Abdulaziz Kamilov's New Delhi visit in late February. Kamilov has already visited the capitals of the other four Central Asian countries to extend the invitation. In March, Kamilov had visited Islamabad to hand over the invitation to Khan. The summit will see a gathering of leaders from South and Central Asia and aims to increase connectivity between the two regions. This is the first such initiative of this kind from Uzbekistan, which is a doubly landlocked country. Uzbekistan, along with Liechtenstein are the only two doubly landlocked countries in the world. Uzbekistan has been keen on using the India-built Chabahar port in Iran. Both countries formed the group with Iran for increasing engagement on the port. Afghanistan will be invited for the next meet of the grouping. During the December virtual summit between Indian PM Modi and Uzbek President Mirziyoyev, the latter announced the intention to join International North-South Transport Corridor that connects Mumbai to Moscow. Uzbekistan is the only Central Asian country with which India has held a virtual summit so far. In strategic space and defence, both sides are increasing engagement. India and Uzbekistan held military exercises Dustlik-2 from 9th to 21st March at Chaubatia, Uttarakhand. On Afghanistan as well, both sides hold regular exchanges. With other countries in the region, Afghanistan is increasing engagement on connectivity, especially with air corridors and the Chabahar port project backed by New Delhi. A trans-Afghan railway is being planned, with Pakistan, Uzbekistan, and Afghanistan being part of it.

Uzbekistan invites Indian PM Modi, Pak PM Khan, other leaders for connectivity summit

&nbsp;

Uzbekistan, one of the&nbsp;fast-growing countries in the world, is reforming its economy to make it sustainable and green.&nbsp;In the past decade, its GDP growth rate exceeded that of the group of leading CIS countries (Russia, Kazakhstan and Belarus) and several countries of the Central Asian region (Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan), according to a document shared by the nation’s embassy to India.

Reforms initiated&nbsp;by President Shavkat Mirziyoyev seek to improve the investment climate, exports, foreign trade, and macroeconomic stability.

Here is a look at the growth, reforms, challenges and future of the nation’s economy:

REFORM PROCESS

The country liberalised its foreign exchange market, simplified visa processes and moved to a flat income tax rate of 12%. It also reduced cost of doing business, opened branches of some foreign universities of Korea, Russia, the US and India. In 2017 alone, 18 free economic zones, 77 small industrial zones and10 technology parks were established.

Products under export ban were reduced, mandatory sale of foreign currency earnings was abolished, customs duty slashed, export contract procedures simplified, and additional conditions for the export of fruits and vegetables were created, according to the embassy document.

A law on combating corruption was adopted, and steps were initiated to curb the shadow economy.

Digital technologies were introduced, with 211 state services rendered through a single portal. Since January 1, scores of licenses and permits were abolished, and registration time and permission documents were reduced or simplified. Non-cash payments went up.

An anti-corruption Agency was set up in mid-2020. From 2017 to the end of 2020, 17 regulations were adopted to fight corruption. From 2021, an annual rating system will evaluate the personal responsibility of regional and government leaders in the fight against corruption and the shadow economy.

A National Project Management Agency was created to ensure consistency in economic reforms process and to introduce modern information management systems. A Ministry of Investment and Foreign Trade was formed for implementing investment policy and attracting foreign investment, among other things.

Administrative reforms, improved accessibility of public services and development of public-private partnerships were also introduced.

Important documents were adopted on sustainable development, transition to a green economy, environmental protection and agriculture Development.

Several measures were introduced to to limit the vulnerability of the civil service to political pressure.

Some businesses have been given tax vacations due to Covid pandemic and expenditures have been reduced.

STATE OF THE ECONOMY

The share of industry in the economy has risen to nearly 30% of GDP in 2019, up from 23.3% in 2014, while that of agriculture was down from 33.3% in 2014 to 28.2% in 2020. These two industries have accounted for between 54% and 57% of total GDP.

Manufacturing sector's share in industrial production has not changed dramatically in the last 10 years.

The devaluation of currency is a risk to&nbsp;macroeconomic stability. There was almost two-fold devaluation in 2017 (from almost 4,000 soums per dollar to 8,000 soums) with high devaluation rates continuing in subsequent years - 28% in 2018, 9.5% in 2019 and 13.4% in 2020.

The value of gross investment in 2018 rose to 30.6% of GDP (against the 21.4% average in 2010-17), 37.1% in 2019 and 34.8% in 2020.&nbsp; But the level of monetisation (the ratio of broad money to GDP) of the economy remained significantly below the world average for the developing world (from 50% to 100%), which made it difficult for the national banking sector to credit investment projects. As a result, foreign lending became the main source of financing, which led to a rapid growth of external debt.

In 2011-2016, investment was at 21-23% to GDP, and external debt grew at 7.5%-14.6% to GDP. The investment boom of 2017-2020 led to a rapid growth of external debt up to 46% of GDP due to increased external borrowing for construction and other capital-intensive industries.

Insufficiently thought-out liberalisation has changed the ratio between exports and imports. While in 2011-2016 the foreign trade balance was active (estimated at &nbsp;+1.6% of GDP), in the last four years it has become deficit, at minus 10-12% of GDP in 2018-2020.

NEED FOR CHANGE

A review of economic reforms is needed. The new economic model should focus on domestic sources of development, resource saving, solving social problems including the fight against poverty and the shadow economy, and reducing the burden on natural capital.

In 2016-2019, the nation's industry grew 107.2% on average, with cumulative growth of 124.3%, but the pandemic in 2020 led to drop in production in industry and manufacturing.

The new industrial policy should aim &nbsp;at processing of raw materials, digitalising industries and enterprises, introducing less energy-intensive "green technologies", and forming technological platforms for the development of basic industries. Estimates say digital systems will improve productivity by 20% at existing facilities, and increase output of finished products by 5-10%.&nbsp;This will enable growth of sustainable employment in industrial production.

The investment policy will contribute to positive technological shifts with a growing share of medium and high-tech industries.

FARM SECTOR: GROWTH AND REFORM

Uzbekistan’s gross agricultural output grew by almost 7.2% in 2016-2020, with attention paid to multi-purpose farms. These farms are exempt from payment of the single tax for five years on all types of activities not related to crop growing.

Uzbekistan has second place globally in production of apricots and carrots, and third in production of quinces and &nbsp;cherries. It is the fifth largest exporter of apricots and fourth largest in persimmons and raw silk.

In 2019, an agriculture development strategy was approved. It seeks to ensure food security; create a favorable agribusiness climate and value chains; and reduce the role of the state and increasing investment attractiveness.

State regulation of flour prices, which had been in place since 1994, was stopped in Uzbekistan. The sale of flour at market prices ensures effective allocation of resources and competition in the markets, taking into account the interests of both producers and consumers.

Beginning with the 2020 harvest, the state grain order will be reduced by 25%, and beginning with the 2021&nbsp;harvest, the practice of the state establishing grain procurement prices and state purchases will be completely abolished.

Starting with the 2020 harvest, the practice of setting purchase prices for raw cotton is also abolished.&nbsp; Mechanization of the industry, which replaces manual labor, is also being actively pursued in cotton growing.

Since September 2020, subletting agricultural land for the purpose of growing agricultural products was introduced.

A GREEN ECONOMY

Uzbekistan is an active participant in the implementation of climate-change related accords including Paris Agreement 2015 and Aral Sea agreements. It has adopted documents for environmental protection, transition to a green economy, solid waste management &nbsp;and biodiversity conservation.

Uzbekistan is also making efforts to increase the forest area. Between 2010 and 2018, forest-covered areas increased from 6.63% to 7.26%. More and more land plots are transferred to the category of lands of the state forest fund as lands potentially suitable for forestry.

Uzbekistan, one of the fast-growing countries in the world, is reforming its economy to make it sustainable and green. In the past decade, its GDP growth rate exceeded that of the group of leading CIS countries (Russia, Kazakhstan and Belarus) and several countries of the Central Asian region (Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan), according to a document shared by the nation’s embassy to India.

Uzbekistan, one of the fast-growing countries in the world, is reforming its economy to make it sustainable and green. In the past decade, its GDP growth rate exceeded that of the group of leading CIS countries (Russia, Kazakhstan and Belarus) and several countries of the Central Asian region (Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan), according to a document shared by the nation’s embassy to India. Reforms initiated by President Shavkat Mirziyoyev seek to improve the investment climate, exports, foreign trade, and macroeconomic stability. Here is a look at the growth, reforms, challenges and future of the nation’s economy: REFORM PROCESS The country liberalised its foreign exchange market, simplified visa processes and moved to a flat income tax rate of 12%. It also reduced cost of doing business, opened branches of some foreign universities of Korea, Russia, the US and India. In 2017 alone, 18 free economic zones, 77 small industrial zones and10 technology parks were established. Products under export ban were reduced, mandatory sale of foreign currency earnings was abolished, customs duty slashed, export contract procedures simplified, and additional conditions for the export of fruits and vegetables were created, according to the embassy document. A law on combating corruption was adopted, and steps were initiated to curb the shadow economy. Digital technologies were introduced, with 211 state services rendered through a single portal. Since January 1, scores of licenses and permits were abolished, and registration time and permission documents were reduced or simplified. Non-cash payments went up. An anti-corruption Agency was set up in mid-2020. From 2017 to the end of 2020, 17 regulations were adopted to fight corruption. From 2021, an annual rating system will evaluate the personal responsibility of regional and government leaders in the fight against corruption and the shadow economy. A National Project Management Agency was created to ensure consistency in economic reforms process and to introduce modern information management systems. A Ministry of Investment and Foreign Trade was formed for implementing investment policy and attracting foreign investment, among other things. Administrative reforms, improved accessibility of public services and development of public-private partnerships were also introduced. Important documents were adopted on sustainable development, transition to a green economy, environmental protection and agriculture Development. Several measures were introduced to to limit the vulnerability of the civil service to political pressure. Some businesses have been given tax vacations due to Covid pandemic and expenditures have been reduced. STATE OF THE ECONOMY The share of industry in the economy has risen to nearly 30% of GDP in 2019, up from 23.3% in 2014, while that of agriculture was down from 33.3% in 2014 to 28.2% in 2020. These two industries have accounted for between 54% and 57% of total GDP. Manufacturing sector's share in industrial production has not changed dramatically in the last 10 years. The devaluation of currency is a risk to macroeconomic stability. There was almost two-fold devaluation in 2017 (from almost 4,000 soums per dollar to 8,000 soums) with high devaluation rates continuing in subsequent years - 28% in 2018, 9.5% in 2019 and 13.4% in 2020. The value of gross investment in 2018 rose to 30.6% of GDP (against the 21.4% average in 2010-17), 37.1% in 2019 and 34.8% in 2020. But the level of monetisation (the ratio of broad money to GDP) of the economy remained significantly below the world average for the developing world (from 50% to 100%), which made it difficult for the national banking sector to credit investment projects. As a result, foreign lending became the main source of financing, which led to a rapid growth of external debt. In 2011-2016, investment was at 21-23% to GDP, and external debt grew at 7.5%-14.6% to GDP. The investment boom of 2017-2020 led to a rapid growth of external debt up to 46% of GDP due to increased external borrowing for construction and other capital-intensive industries. Insufficiently thought-out liberalisation has changed the ratio between exports and imports. While in 2011-2016 the foreign trade balance was active (estimated at +1.6% of GDP), in the last four years it has become deficit, at minus 10-12% of GDP in 2018-2020. NEED FOR CHANGE A review of economic reforms is needed. The new economic model should focus on domestic sources of development, resource saving, solving social problems including the fight against poverty and the shadow economy, and reducing the burden on natural capital. In 2016-2019, the nation's industry grew 107.2% on average, with cumulative growth of 124.3%, but the pandemic in 2020 led to drop in production in industry and manufacturing. The new industrial policy should aim at processing of raw materials, digitalising industries and enterprises, introducing less energy-intensive "green technologies", and forming technological platforms for the development of basic industries. Estimates say digital systems will improve productivity by 20% at existing facilities, and increase output of finished products by 5-10%. This will enable growth of sustainable employment in industrial production. The investment policy will contribute to positive technological shifts with a growing share of medium and high-tech industries. FARM SECTOR: GROWTH AND REFORM Uzbekistan’s gross agricultural output grew by almost 7.2% in 2016-2020, with attention paid to multi-purpose farms. These farms are exempt from payment of the single tax for five years on all types of activities not related to crop growing. Uzbekistan has second place globally in production of apricots and carrots, and third in production of quinces and cherries. It is the fifth largest exporter of apricots and fourth largest in persimmons and raw silk. In 2019, an agriculture development strategy was approved. It seeks to ensure food security; create a favorable agribusiness climate and value chains; and reduce the role of the state and increasing investment attractiveness. State regulation of flour prices, which had been in place since 1994, was stopped in Uzbekistan. The sale of flour at market prices ensures effective allocation of resources and competition in the markets, taking into account the interests of both producers and consumers. Beginning with the 2020 harvest, the state grain order will be reduced by 25%, and beginning with the 2021 harvest, the practice of the state establishing grain procurement prices and state purchases will be completely abolished. Starting with the 2020 harvest, the practice of setting purchase prices for raw cotton is also abolished. Mechanization of the industry, which replaces manual labor, is also being actively pursued in cotton growing. Since September 2020, subletting agricultural land for the purpose of growing agricultural products was introduced. A GREEN ECONOMY Uzbekistan is an active participant in the implementation of climate-change related accords including Paris Agreement 2015 and Aral Sea agreements. It has adopted documents for environmental protection, transition to a green economy, solid waste management and biodiversity conservation. Uzbekistan is also making efforts to increase the forest area. Between 2010 and 2018, forest-covered areas increased from 6.63% to 7.26%. More and more land plots are transferred to the category of lands of the state forest fund as lands potentially suitable for forestry.

Uzbekistan is taking efforts to make its economy sustainable and green

External Affairs Minister (EAM) S Jaishankar met his Uzbekistan counterpart Abdulaziz Kamilov on Thursday and discussed various bilateral, regional and global issues of mutual interest.&nbsp;

The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said in a statement that during Kamilov's two-day visit to New Delhi on February 24 and 25, both sides took stock of various aspects of bilateral cooperation between India and Uzbekistan.&nbsp;

"They positively assessed the progress on the outcomes of the India-Uzbekistan Virtual Summit between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Uzbekistan President Shavkat Mirziyoyev held on December 11, 2020. Both countries have been actively cooperating in the regional and multilateral formats including the UN, Shanghai Cooperation Organization and the India-Central Asia Dialogue," the statement said.&nbsp;

Foreign Minister Kamilov extended an invitation for participation in an international conference on regional connectivity being organised by Uzbekistan in Tashkent on July 15-16, 2021, MEA said.&nbsp;

The MEA also said that both Ministers also discussed the evolving situation in Afghanistan and noted the importance of a stable and peaceful Afghanistan for regional peace, stability and security. &nbsp;

Earlier, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar was on a two-day visit to Mauritius, where he offered prayers at the holy Ganga Talao. "Offered prayers at the holy Ganga Talao this morning. Grateful to FM Alan Ganoo, Culture Minister Avinash Teeluck and Agriculture Minister Maneesh Gobin for joining me," Jaishankar said in a tweet. &nbsp;

This was the last leg of his two-nation tour. Earlier, he visited the Maldives. India and Mauritius had on Monday signed free trade agreement along with five key pacts. This was the first such agreement with an African country. The agreement was signed during the visit of the External Affairs Minister to the island nation. &nbsp;&nbsp;

Jaishankar, who addressed the media with the Prime Minister of Mauritius, said India is privileged to have entered the Comprehensive Economic Cooperation and Partnership Agreement (CECPA) with Mauritius.&nbsp;

External Affairs Minister (EAM) S Jaishankar met his Uzbekistan counterpart Abdulaziz Kamilov on Thursday and discussed various bilateral, regional and global issues of mutual interest.

External Affairs Minister (EAM) S Jaishankar met his Uzbekistan counterpart Abdulaziz Kamilov on Thursday and discussed various bilateral, regional and global issues of mutual interest. The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said in a statement that during Kamilov's two-day visit to New Delhi on February 24 and 25, both sides took stock of various aspects of bilateral cooperation between India and Uzbekistan. "They positively assessed the progress on the outcomes of the India-Uzbekistan Virtual Summit between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Uzbekistan President Shavkat Mirziyoyev held on December 11, 2020. Both countries have been actively cooperating in the regional and multilateral formats including the UN, Shanghai Cooperation Organization and the India-Central Asia Dialogue," the statement said. Foreign Minister Kamilov extended an invitation for participation in an international conference on regional connectivity being organised by Uzbekistan in Tashkent on July 15-16, 2021, MEA said. The MEA also said that both Ministers also discussed the evolving situation in Afghanistan and noted the importance of a stable and peaceful Afghanistan for regional peace, stability and security. Earlier, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar was on a two-day visit to Mauritius, where he offered prayers at the holy Ganga Talao. "Offered prayers at the holy Ganga Talao this morning. Grateful to FM Alan Ganoo, Culture Minister Avinash Teeluck and Agriculture Minister Maneesh Gobin for joining me," Jaishankar said in a tweet. This was the last leg of his two-nation tour. Earlier, he visited the Maldives. India and Mauritius had on Monday signed free trade agreement along with five key pacts. This was the first such agreement with an African country. The agreement was signed during the visit of the External Affairs Minister to the island nation. Jaishankar, who addressed the media with the Prime Minister of Mauritius, said India is privileged to have entered the Comprehensive Economic Cooperation and Partnership Agreement (CECPA) with Mauritius.

Jaishankar meets Uzbekistan counterpart, discusses issues of mutual interest

The first meeting of India, Uzbekistan, and Iran on the joint use of Chabahar port will take place virtually on Monday. The meeting will be jointly chaired at the deputy minister level from Uzbekistan and Iran and at the secretary-level from India.

The announcement comes just a day after the virtual summit between Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev. &nbsp;The proposal for the trilateral meet was proposed by the Uzbek side and India has welcomed the "interest of Uzbekistan to use the Chabahar port as a transit port" as "this would open up economic opportunities for the traders and business community of the region", a ministry of external affairs statement said.

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And it is just not Uzbekistan, but other Central Asian countries who have shown interest in using the port, built with the help of New Delhi with India seeking to "to cooperate closely with regional countries on this issue".

The development is seen as an important shot in the arm for India's connectivity plans in the west of it, were often Pakistan has been playing an obstructionist role. India sees the Chabahar port as a fulcrum of connectivity in the region, and even the US gave an exemption to the project from Iran sanctions since it not only provided humanitarian supplies to Afghanistan but also economic alternatives.

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India built the Shahid Behesti Port at Chabahar as part of India, Iran, Afghanistan 2016 agreement to increase its connectivity with Afghanistan and beyond. In December 2018, an Indian company India Ports Global Limited took over the port operations and as of August of 2020, the port has handled 12 lakhs tons of cargo and 82000 containers. In fact, India used the port to send 75000 tons of wheat to Afghanistan as part of the humanitarian aid amidst the covid pandemic.

The first meeting of India, Uzbekistan, and Iran on the joint use of Chabahar port will take place virtually on Monday. The meeting will be jointly chaired at the deputy minister level from Uzbekistan and Iran and at the secretary-level from India.

The first meeting of India, Uzbekistan, and Iran on the joint use of Chabahar port will take place virtually on Monday. The meeting will be jointly chaired at the deputy minister level from Uzbekistan and Iran and at the secretary-level from India. The announcement comes just a day after the virtual summit between Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev. The proposal for the trilateral meet was proposed by the Uzbek side and India has welcomed the "interest of Uzbekistan to use the Chabahar port as a transit port" as "this would open up economic opportunities for the traders and business community of the region", a ministry of external affairs statement said. Also read| Indo-Pacific represents evolution of India: S Jaishankar And it is just not Uzbekistan, but other Central Asian countries who have shown interest in using the port, built with the help of New Delhi with India seeking to "to cooperate closely with regional countries on this issue". The development is seen as an important shot in the arm for India's connectivity plans in the west of it, were often Pakistan has been playing an obstructionist role. India sees the Chabahar port as a fulcrum of connectivity in the region, and even the US gave an exemption to the project from Iran sanctions since it not only provided humanitarian supplies to Afghanistan but also economic alternatives. Also read| Factually incorrect: India dismisses Chinese embassy spokesperson's comments on joint release of stamp India built the Shahid Behesti Port at Chabahar as part of India, Iran, Afghanistan 2016 agreement to increase its connectivity with Afghanistan and beyond. In December 2018, an Indian company India Ports Global Limited took over the port operations and as of August of 2020, the port has handled 12 lakhs tons of cargo and 82000 containers. In fact, India used the port to send 75000 tons of wheat to Afghanistan as part of the humanitarian aid amidst the covid pandemic.

India, Uzbekistan, Iran trilateral meet on Chabahar on Monday

In a big boost to India's regional connectivity plans, Uzbekistan has given an in-principle nod to join the&nbsp;International North-South Transport Corridor (INSTC). The approval was given by Uzbek President&nbsp;Shavkat Mirziyoyev to Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the virtual summit on Friday.

MEA JS ERS Dr. Adarsh Swaika said, "We had requested earlier when President&nbsp;Mirziyoyev&nbsp;had visited India in 2018, PM had made a request to join the&nbsp;INSTC.&nbsp;President gave his in-principle concurrence to joining the&nbsp;INSTC.&nbsp;It is a very good development that Uzbekistan in principle ready to join&nbsp;INSTC"

International North-South Transport Corridor connects Mumbai to Moscow and passes through Iran and Azerbaijan.&nbsp;Efforts of all the stakeholders have been to increase its popularity and earlier this year an agreement was signed between Container Corporation of India and Russian railways to facilitate the movement of cargo.

Efforts of all the stakeholders have been to increase its popularity and earlier this year an agreement was signed between Container Corporation of India and Russian railways to facilitate the movement of cargo.

Meanwhile, Uzbekistan has proposed a trilateral dialogue among India, Iran, and Uzbekistan to promote connectivity through the Chabahar port.&nbsp;India is also working on the viability of an air corridor to Central Asia but suitable points are yet to be identified. It already has an air corridor with Afghanistan.&nbsp;

Uzbekistan&nbsp;is one of the 2 countries in the world that is a doubly landlocked country and is keen on many connectivity projects including, a railway connection with Afghanistan.&nbsp;

During the virtual summit, the first with any central Asian country, India approved 448 million lines of credit for four&nbsp;projects developmental projects in Uzbekistan--two&nbsp;in road construction and one each in sewerage treatment and information technology.

In a big boost to India's regional connectivity plans, Uzbekistan has given an in-principle nod to join the International North-South Transport Corridor (INSTC).

In a big boost to India's regional connectivity plans, Uzbekistan has given an in-principle nod to join the International North-South Transport Corridor (INSTC). The approval was given by Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev to Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the virtual summit on Friday. MEA JS ERS Dr. Adarsh Swaika said, "We had requested earlier when President Mirziyoyev had visited India in 2018, PM had made a request to join the INSTC. President gave his in-principle concurrence to joining the INSTC. It is a very good development that Uzbekistan in principle ready to join INSTC" International North-South Transport Corridor connects Mumbai to Moscow and passes through Iran and Azerbaijan. Efforts of all the stakeholders have been to increase its popularity and earlier this year an agreement was signed between Container Corporation of India and Russian railways to facilitate the movement of cargo. Efforts of all the stakeholders have been to increase its popularity and earlier this year an agreement was signed between Container Corporation of India and Russian railways to facilitate the movement of cargo. Meanwhile, Uzbekistan has proposed a trilateral dialogue among India, Iran, and Uzbekistan to promote connectivity through the Chabahar port. India is also working on the viability of an air corridor to Central Asia but suitable points are yet to be identified. It already has an air corridor with Afghanistan. Uzbekistan is one of the 2 countries in the world that is a doubly landlocked country and is keen on many connectivity projects including, a railway connection with Afghanistan. During the virtual summit, the first with any central Asian country, India approved 448 million lines of credit for four projects developmental projects in Uzbekistan--two in road construction and one each in sewerage treatment and information technology.

Boost to connectivity as Uzbekistan agrees to join north-south transport corridor, proposes trilateral talks on Chabahar

The Afghan peace process must be "led, owned and controlled"&nbsp;by Afghanistan and it is necessary to preserve the achievements of the past two decades, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Friday.

In his opening remarks at a virtual summit with Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev, Modi also said India and Uzbekistan are standing together firmly against terrorism and have similar concerns over extremism, fundamentalism and separatism.

"We have similar concerns about extremism, fundamentalism and separatism. We both stand firmly together against terrorism. We also have a similar approach on regional security issues," the prime minister said.

"We agree that the restoration of peace in Afghanistan requires a process that itself is led, owned and controlled by Afghanistan. It is also necessary to preserve the achievements of the last two decades," he said.

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The prime minister's comments on Afghanistan come in the midst of renewed momentum in the Afghan peace process.&nbsp; 
Top Afghan peace negotiator Abdullah Abdullah and several other senior leaders from the country visited India in the last few months to apprise about the peace process.

In his remarks, Modi also said that India wants to further intensify its development partnership with Uzbekistan and expressed happiness that many projects are being considered in that country under the Indian Line of Credit.

Uzbekistan is a key country in Central Asia which India considers as its 'extended neighbourhood'. The bilateral ties now encompass a wider canvas of cooperation including in areas of defence and security, trade and investment, energy, agriculture, education and science and technology.

Both countries are currently negotiating a bilateral investment treaty (BIT) and a preferential trade agreement. Last year, a pact was sealed providing for long-term purchase of uranium by India from Uzbekistan.

In his remarks, the prime minister also referred to cooperation between the two countries in key areas of defence, space and atomic energy sectors.

"Our security partnership is becoming a strong pillar of bilateral relations. Last year, the first joint military exercise between our armed forces took place. Our joint efforts are also increasing in the areas of space and atomic energy," he said.

Modi also said India was ready to share its expertise and experience with Uzbekistan as per its development priorities.

"India has great potential in areas such as infrastructure, IT, education, health, training and capacity building, which can be useful for Uzbekistan. The establishment of a joint working group on agriculture among us is an important and positive step," he said.

"With this we can find opportunities to increase our agricultural trade which will help the farmers of both countries," he added.

Modi also talked about cooperation between the two countries during the coronavirus pandemic.

"It is also a matter of satisfaction that during this difficult time of the COVID-19 epidemic, both countries have fully supported each other, whether to supply medicines or to ensure return of each other's citizens to home," he said.

The Afghan peace process must be "led, owned and controlled" by Afghanistan and it is necessary to preserve the achievements of the past two decades, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Friday.

The Afghan peace process must be "led, owned and controlled" by Afghanistan and it is necessary to preserve the achievements of the past two decades, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Friday. In his opening remarks at a virtual summit with Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev, Modi also said India and Uzbekistan are standing together firmly against terrorism and have similar concerns over extremism, fundamentalism and separatism. "We have similar concerns about extremism, fundamentalism and separatism. We both stand firmly together against terrorism. We also have a similar approach on regional security issues," the prime minister said. "We agree that the restoration of peace in Afghanistan requires a process that itself is led, owned and controlled by Afghanistan. It is also necessary to preserve the achievements of the last two decades," he said. Also Read | Race is on for strategic bases in Indian Ocean Region, says CDS Bipin Rawat The prime minister's comments on Afghanistan come in the midst of renewed momentum in the Afghan peace process. Top Afghan peace negotiator Abdullah Abdullah and several other senior leaders from the country visited India in the last few months to apprise about the peace process. In his remarks, Modi also said that India wants to further intensify its development partnership with Uzbekistan and expressed happiness that many projects are being considered in that country under the Indian Line of Credit. Uzbekistan is a key country in Central Asia which India considers as its 'extended neighbourhood'. The bilateral ties now encompass a wider canvas of cooperation including in areas of defence and security, trade and investment, energy, agriculture, education and science and technology. Both countries are currently negotiating a bilateral investment treaty (BIT) and a preferential trade agreement. Last year, a pact was sealed providing for long-term purchase of uranium by India from Uzbekistan. In his remarks, the prime minister also referred to cooperation between the two countries in key areas of defence, space and atomic energy sectors. "Our security partnership is becoming a strong pillar of bilateral relations. Last year, the first joint military exercise between our armed forces took place. Our joint efforts are also increasing in the areas of space and atomic energy," he said. Modi also said India was ready to share its expertise and experience with Uzbekistan as per its development priorities. "India has great potential in areas such as infrastructure, IT, education, health, training and capacity building, which can be useful for Uzbekistan. The establishment of a joint working group on agriculture among us is an important and positive step," he said. "With this we can find opportunities to increase our agricultural trade which will help the farmers of both countries," he added. Modi also talked about cooperation between the two countries during the coronavirus pandemic. "It is also a matter of satisfaction that during this difficult time of the COVID-19 epidemic, both countries have fully supported each other, whether to supply medicines or to ensure return of each other's citizens to home," he said.

Gains of past two decades need to be preserved: PM Modi on Afghan peace process

Uzbekistan plans to repatriate another group of its citizens, mostly women and children, from Syria where they are staying at crowded camps with other families of Islamic State fighters, an Uzbek government source told Reuters on Friday.

A government delegation from Tashkent has visited the Al-Hol and Roj camps in the Kurdish-controlled part of Syria and met over 100 Uzbeks staying there to discuss their return home, the source said.

Most of those people are women and children under three years of age who "live in deplorable conditions and have difficulties with access to drinking water, food and medical care", according to the source.

Kurdish fighters have seized much of northern and eastern Syria from Islamic State and have since held thousands of militants in prisons, while their wives and children - numbering tens of thousands - are living in camps.

Al-Hol camp alone houses nearly 65,000 people, including about 28,000 Syrians, 30,000 Iraqis and some 10,000 other foreigners of many nationalities, according to U.N. estimates.

UNICEF said in August eight children had died in al-Hol, where it said children from 60 countries were languishing and COVID-19 infections among camp workers had worsened conditions.

Thousands of people from the predominantly Muslim region of Central Asia, where Uzbekistan is the most populous nation, are believed to have joined Islamic State, with men often bringing their families along.

Uzbekistan repatriated 220 women and children from Syria last year who then enrolled in a programme aimed at their rehabilitation, the government has said.

Uzbekistan plans to repatriate another group of its citizens, mostly women and children, from Syria where they are staying at crowded camps with other families of Islamic State fighters, an Uzbek government source told Reuters on Friday.

Uzbekistan plans to repatriate another group of its citizens, mostly women and children, from Syria where they are staying at crowded camps with other families of Islamic State fighters, an Uzbek government source told Reuters on Friday. A government delegation from Tashkent has visited the Al-Hol and Roj camps in the Kurdish-controlled part of Syria and met over 100 Uzbeks staying there to discuss their return home, the source said. Most of those people are women and children under three years of age who "live in deplorable conditions and have difficulties with access to drinking water, food and medical care", according to the source. Kurdish fighters have seized much of northern and eastern Syria from Islamic State and have since held thousands of militants in prisons, while their wives and children - numbering tens of thousands - are living in camps. Al-Hol camp alone houses nearly 65,000 people, including about 28,000 Syrians, 30,000 Iraqis and some 10,000 other foreigners of many nationalities, according to U.N. estimates. UNICEF said in August eight children had died in al-Hol, where it said children from 60 countries were languishing and COVID-19 infections among camp workers had worsened conditions. Thousands of people from the predominantly Muslim region of Central Asia, where Uzbekistan is the most populous nation, are believed to have joined Islamic State, with men often bringing their families along. Uzbekistan repatriated 220 women and children from Syria last year who then enrolled in a programme aimed at their rehabilitation, the government has said.

Uzbekistan to repatriate more citizens from crowded Syrian camps

The foreign minister of central Asian countries and India's external affairs minister will meet virtually to discuss many issues including connectivity. While Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan will be represented on FMs level, Kyrgyzstan will be represented by First Deputy Foreign Minister.

Given how central Asia is geographically connected with Afghanistan, Acting Afghan Foreign Minister Mohammed Haneef Atmar has also been invited.&nbsp;

A release from India's ministry of external affairs said, "The Ministers will exchange views on a wide gamut of areas including political, security, economic and commercial, humanitarian and cultural spheres as well as on regional and international issues of mutual interest."

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/india-signs-military-agreement-with-us-on-sharing-of-satellite-data-338409">Also read|&nbsp;India signs military agreement with US on sharing of satellite data</a>

India and central Asian countries are working to start an air corridor to boost connectivity as well as increase trade between the two sides. India already has an air corridor with Afghanistan, that has been bringing Afghan products to cities like New Delhi and Mumbai. &nbsp;Focus is also on how the Chabahar port in Iran can help increase India's connectivity to Central Asia via Afghanistan.

India's Ambassador to Uzbekistan Manish Prabhat, recently said that New Delhi is "working on the International North-South Transport Corridor (INSTC) and Uzbekistan can also become its member. An air corridor between India and Central Asia is also being worked on. Indian carriers should also target direct flights to Uzbekistan.”

This is the second such India Central Asia Dialogue, a platform created to increase and strengthen cooperation between New Delhi and the Central Asian region. The inaugural meeting of the India-Central Asia Dialogue was jointly organized by India and Uzbekistan on 13 January 2019 in Samarkand, Uzbekistan.

The foreign minister of central Asian countries and India's external affairs minister will meet virtually to discuss many issues including connectivity. While Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan will be represented on FMs level, Kyrgyzstan will be represented by First Deputy Foreign Minister.

The foreign minister of central Asian countries and India's external affairs minister will meet virtually to discuss many issues including connectivity. While Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan will be represented on FMs level, Kyrgyzstan will be represented by First Deputy Foreign Minister. Given how central Asia is geographically connected with Afghanistan, Acting Afghan Foreign Minister Mohammed Haneef Atmar has also been invited. A release from India's ministry of external affairs said, "The Ministers will exchange views on a wide gamut of areas including political, security, economic and commercial, humanitarian and cultural spheres as well as on regional and international issues of mutual interest." Also read| India signs military agreement with US on sharing of satellite data India and central Asian countries are working to start an air corridor to boost connectivity as well as increase trade between the two sides. India already has an air corridor with Afghanistan, that has been bringing Afghan products to cities like New Delhi and Mumbai. Focus is also on how the Chabahar port in Iran can help increase India's connectivity to Central Asia via Afghanistan. India's Ambassador to Uzbekistan Manish Prabhat, recently said that New Delhi is "working on the International North-South Transport Corridor (INSTC) and Uzbekistan can also become its member. An air corridor between India and Central Asia is also being worked on. Indian carriers should also target direct flights to Uzbekistan.” This is the second such India Central Asia Dialogue, a platform created to increase and strengthen cooperation between New Delhi and the Central Asian region. The inaugural meeting of the India-Central Asia Dialogue was jointly organized by India and Uzbekistan on 13 January 2019 in Samarkand, Uzbekistan.

With connectivity in focus, India-central Asian FMs to meet virtually today

Uzbekistan too is struggling amid the pandemic but this year's bumper melon harvest has provided some relief to the country's farmer. Watch the report to know more.

Bumper melon harvest sweetens Uzbekistan's COVID-19 woes

Happy to have you back: Countries offering incentives to lure travellers

Tens of thousands of youngsters headed to sports arenas across Uzbekistan on Wednesday to sit university entrance exams in the open air due to the coronavirus pandemic.

The massive exercise, which will span two weeks, will see more than 1.4 million applicants take a three-hour test while seated at desks on the running tracks or walkways of the stadiums. They are competing for some 150,000 university places under a centralised admissions system.

Hundreds of young men and women attended the first session at one of the stadiums in Tashkent on Wednesday morning, wearing masks. The weather was comfortably warm for those seated in the shade while other test-takers used clothes and papers to protect themselves from direct sunlight.

The Central Asian nation of 34 million has just ended its second national lockdown after a mid-summer surge in cases stretched its healthcare system to the limit. The former Soviet republic has confirmed 42,370 COVID-19 cases with 324 deaths.

Uzbekistan said this week that courses at local universities would commence online rather than in person and schools would reopen on Sept.14, two weeks later than usual, with lessons reverting to distance learning depending on local circumstances.

The government said on Wednesday that cafes, restaurants and tea houses will reopen from Sept.5 with some restrictions, as well as cinemas, theatres and theme parks.

Mosques and other places of worship will be allowed to hold collective prayers from that date. Uzbekistan will also reopen its border with neighbouring Kyrgyzstan. Masks will remain mandatory in public areas and mass events will remain banned.

Tens of thousands of youngsters headed to sports arenas across Uzbekistan on Wednesday to sit university entrance exams in the open air due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Tens of thousands of youngsters headed to sports arenas across Uzbekistan on Wednesday to sit university entrance exams in the open air due to the coronavirus pandemic. The massive exercise, which will span two weeks, will see more than 1.4 million applicants take a three-hour test while seated at desks on the running tracks or walkways of the stadiums. They are competing for some 150,000 university places under a centralised admissions system. Hundreds of young men and women attended the first session at one of the stadiums in Tashkent on Wednesday morning, wearing masks. The weather was comfortably warm for those seated in the shade while other test-takers used clothes and papers to protect themselves from direct sunlight. The Central Asian nation of 34 million has just ended its second national lockdown after a mid-summer surge in cases stretched its healthcare system to the limit. The former Soviet republic has confirmed 42,370 COVID-19 cases with 324 deaths. Uzbekistan said this week that courses at local universities would commence online rather than in person and schools would reopen on Sept.14, two weeks later than usual, with lessons reverting to distance learning depending on local circumstances. The government said on Wednesday that cafes, restaurants and tea houses will reopen from Sept.5 with some restrictions, as well as cinemas, theatres and theme parks. Mosques and other places of worship will be allowed to hold collective prayers from that date. Uzbekistan will also reopen its border with neighbouring Kyrgyzstan. Masks will remain mandatory in public areas and mass events will remain banned.

Uzbekistan stages outdoor exams for 1.4 million university applicants

The deadly new coronavirus has spreads to 28 countries. Iran has evacuated 56 of its citizens. 59 Iraqis and 24 Syrians have been evacuated from Wuhan. While Uzbekistan has also evacuated 84 people.

Coronavirus spreads to across 28 countries

The Union Cabinet on Tuesday approved an agreement signed between <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/indian-economic-slowdown-international-monetary-fund-calls-for-urgent-action-270004">India</a> and Uzbekistan for cooperation in the field of combating transnational organised crime and international terrorism. 
 
The agreement was signed between the Ministry of Home Affairs and Uzbekistan's Ministry of Internal Affairs on November 20 during the visit of Uzbek's internal minister Pulat Bobojonov. The agreement was approved in a meeting chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. 
 
The agreement aims to improve the effectiveness of <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/uzbekistan-polls-held-under-pro-reform-leader-269523">both countries</a> in prevention and suppression of crimes including crime relating to terrorism and its financing, organised crime and to establish a framework for enhancing cooperation between the officials of intelligence and law-enforcement agencies of the two countries, in line with domestic laws and international obligations

The Union Cabinet on Tuesday approved an agreement signed between India and Uzbekistan for cooperation in the field of combating transnational organised crime and international terrorism.

The Union Cabinet on Tuesday approved an agreement signed between India and Uzbekistan for cooperation in the field of combating transnational organised crime and international terrorism. The agreement was signed between the Ministry of Home Affairs and Uzbekistan's Ministry of Internal Affairs on November 20 during the visit of Uzbek's internal minister Pulat Bobojonov. The agreement was approved in a meeting chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The agreement aims to improve the effectiveness of both countries in prevention and suppression of crimes including crime relating to terrorism and its financing, organised crime and to establish a framework for enhancing cooperation between the officials of intelligence and law-enforcement agencies of the two countries, in line with domestic laws and international obligations

Union Cabinet approves India-Uzbekistan agreement to combat terrorism

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/indian-observers-to-monitor-uzbekistan-parliamentary-election-on-december-22-265553">Voters in Uzbekistan</a> were heading to the polls Sunday in its first parliamentary election since a new leader ushered in an era of reform after years of isolation and authoritarian rule.

Polling stations in Central Asia's most populous country opened at 0800 local time (0300 GMT) and will close 12 hours later.&nbsp;

President Shavkat Mirziyoyev took charge in 2016 after the death of hardline predecessor and former patron Islam Karimov, who had ruled for almost three decades.

Mirziyoyev has been lauded for doing away with many of Karimov's authoritarian excesses, releasing some political prisoners, battling forced labour and opening up the landlocked state to tourism and foreign investment.&nbsp;

But choices on the ballot in the former Soviet republic are few,&nbsp;all five parties competing are represented in the outgoing parliament.&nbsp;

Muslim-majority but staunchly secular Uzbekistan is home to 33 million people, over 20 million of whom can vote.

Rubber stamp

Britain's influential magazine The Economist this week named Uzbekistan as its country of the year, saying "no other country travelled so far" in 2019.

Yet the reform drive has so far not allowed real competition to Mirziyoyev, 62, to develop.&nbsp;

The 150-member lower house where no party has ever achieved a commanding majority has a long-earned rubber stamp reputation.

Currently the Liberal Democratic Party is the largest in the legislature with 52 seats, followed by Milli Tiklanish, known in English as the National Revival Democratic Party, with 36. &nbsp;

The People's Democratic Party, the Social Democratic Party also known as Adolat and the Ecological Movement of Uzbekistan are also represented there.&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/uzbekistan-to-waive-visa-restrictions-for-chinese-citizens-249263">Residents of the capital Tashkent</a> said they wanted to see more from their elected officials and voiced concerns they would not have dared express under Karimov.

Shahzod Alikulov, a builder, said the future parliament should ease the burden of the majority-rural population who feel the sharp end of energy shortages.&nbsp;

"For people to have gas, electricity, roads. That is what I will give my vote for," he told AFP.

Nigina Luftfullaeva, a 22-year-old student, said she would like the new parliament to help eradicate endemic corruption.

"Maybe we will never be able to get rid of it fully, but it would be nice to get rid of it at least partly," Luftfullaeva told AFP.

'New Uzbekistan?'

The elections are being held under the slogan "<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/india-close-and-trusted-friend-of-uzbekistan-ambassador-farhod-arziev-247005">New Uzbekistan, new elections</a>" as authorities seek to brand them as the latest example of a newfound openness.&nbsp;

But the Organisation for Security and &nbsp;Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), which has sent an observer mission to the polls, has said many features of past votes remain in place.

"Very few campaign posters are visible," the group's pre-election report said.&nbsp;

"So far, very little evidence of outdoor campaign activities has been observed."

Karimov was often criticised by international watchdogs over torture and forced labour allegations.

Mirziyoyev has continued to honour Karimov publicly but has been credited with eradicating much of the slavery in the country's cotton sector and lifting Uzbekistan out of isolation.

Luca Anceschi, a senior lecturer in Central Asian Studies at the University of Glasgow, said it was too early to say whether the vote holds any significance in the broader context of Uzbekistan's political transformation.&nbsp;

Popular participation in the poll "seems a crucial element of Mirziyoyev's strategy of support building", Anceschi told AFP.

As to whether parliament can evolve as an institution, he said, "the jury is out".

Voters in Uzbekistan were heading to the polls Sunday in its first parliamentary election since a new leader ushered in an era of reform after years of isolation and authoritarian rule.

Voters in Uzbekistan were heading to the polls Sunday in its first parliamentary election since a new leader ushered in an era of reform after years of isolation and authoritarian rule. Polling stations in Central Asia's most populous country opened at 0800 local time (0300 GMT) and will close 12 hours later. President Shavkat Mirziyoyev took charge in 2016 after the death of hardline predecessor and former patron Islam Karimov, who had ruled for almost three decades. Mirziyoyev has been lauded for doing away with many of Karimov's authoritarian excesses, releasing some political prisoners, battling forced labour and opening up the landlocked state to tourism and foreign investment. But choices on the ballot in the former Soviet republic are few, all five parties competing are represented in the outgoing parliament. Muslim-majority but staunchly secular Uzbekistan is home to 33 million people, over 20 million of whom can vote. Rubber stamp Britain's influential magazine The Economist this week named Uzbekistan as its country of the year, saying "no other country travelled so far" in 2019. Yet the reform drive has so far not allowed real competition to Mirziyoyev, 62, to develop. The 150-member lower house where no party has ever achieved a commanding majority has a long-earned rubber stamp reputation. Currently the Liberal Democratic Party is the largest in the legislature with 52 seats, followed by Milli Tiklanish, known in English as the National Revival Democratic Party, with 36. The People's Democratic Party, the Social Democratic Party also known as Adolat and the Ecological Movement of Uzbekistan are also represented there. Residents of the capital Tashkent said they wanted to see more from their elected officials and voiced concerns they would not have dared express under Karimov. Shahzod Alikulov, a builder, said the future parliament should ease the burden of the majority-rural population who feel the sharp end of energy shortages. "For people to have gas, electricity, roads. That is what I will give my vote for," he told AFP. Nigina Luftfullaeva, a 22-year-old student, said she would like the new parliament to help eradicate endemic corruption. "Maybe we will never be able to get rid of it fully, but it would be nice to get rid of it at least partly," Luftfullaeva told AFP. 'New Uzbekistan?' The elections are being held under the slogan "New Uzbekistan, new elections" as authorities seek to brand them as the latest example of a newfound openness. But the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), which has sent an observer mission to the polls, has said many features of past votes remain in place. "Very few campaign posters are visible," the group's pre-election report said. "So far, very little evidence of outdoor campaign activities has been observed." Karimov was often criticised by international watchdogs over torture and forced labour allegations. Mirziyoyev has continued to honour Karimov publicly but has been credited with eradicating much of the slavery in the country's cotton sector and lifting Uzbekistan out of isolation. Luca Anceschi, a senior lecturer in Central Asian Studies at the University of Glasgow, said it was too early to say whether the vote holds any significance in the broader context of Uzbekistan's political transformation. Popular participation in the poll "seems a crucial element of Mirziyoyev's strategy of support building", Anceschi told AFP. As to whether parliament can evolve as an institution, he said, "the jury is out".

Uzbekistan: Polls held under pro-reform leader

Uzbekistan said Thursday that it will lift visa restrictions for citizens from China in a bid to boost foreign tourism, becoming the first country in former Soviet nation in Central Asia to make the move.&nbsp;

An order signed by President Shavkat Mirziyoyev said that Chinese citizens including those from Hong Kong would be subject to a seven-day visa waiver from the beginning of 2020.

Uzbekistan, which does not share a border with China, is the first of the five 'stans' in ex-communist Central Asia to scrap visas for Chinese citizens.

While China is a key trade partner for the region Beijing has often struggled to counter perceptions that it is out to dominate its weaker neighbours via loans and strategic investments.&nbsp;

Uzbekistan has made tourism a priority to reduce its dependence on exports of its natural resources, including natural gas and metals.

The country's star draws are the fabled cities of Bukhara, Samarkand, Khiva, which were once cultural centres and key points along the historic Silk Road trade routes linking China and Europe.&nbsp;

Uzbekistan's tourism committee has said that annual visitor numbers for 2018 were 5.3 million, double the figure for 2017.

President Mirziyoyev has reversed a number of policies that hampered tourism under his late predecessor Islam Karimov.

Among the restrictions he scrapped was a ban on photography in the capital Tashkent's ornate metro system that had led to police detentions of unsuspecting tourists.

Uzbekistan said Thursday that it will lift visa restrictions for citizens from China in a bid to boost foreign tourism, becoming the first country in former Soviet nation in Central Asia to make the move.

Uzbekistan said Thursday that it will lift visa restrictions for citizens from China in a bid to boost foreign tourism, becoming the first country in former Soviet nation in Central Asia to make the move. An order signed by President Shavkat Mirziyoyev said that Chinese citizens including those from Hong Kong would be subject to a seven-day visa waiver from the beginning of 2020. Uzbekistan, which does not share a border with China, is the first of the five 'stans' in ex-communist Central Asia to scrap visas for Chinese citizens. While China is a key trade partner for the region Beijing has often struggled to counter perceptions that it is out to dominate its weaker neighbours via loans and strategic investments. Uzbekistan has made tourism a priority to reduce its dependence on exports of its natural resources, including natural gas and metals. The country's star draws are the fabled cities of Bukhara, Samarkand, Khiva, which were once cultural centres and key points along the historic Silk Road trade routes linking China and Europe. Uzbekistan's tourism committee has said that annual visitor numbers for 2018 were 5.3 million, double the figure for 2017. President Mirziyoyev has reversed a number of policies that hampered tourism under his late predecessor Islam Karimov. Among the restrictions he scrapped was a ban on photography in the capital Tashkent's ornate metro system that had led to police detentions of unsuspecting tourists.

Uzbekistan to waive visa restrictions for Chinese citizens

India is a "close and trusted friend" of Uzbekistan and both countries share fast-growing and dynamic relations, said Uzbek Ambassador Farhod Arziev here on Sunday.

"I should mention the dynamic, fast-growing and deepening cooperation between India and Uzbekistan. India is our strategic partner," said Arziev told ANI.

"We really appreciate and value this relationship. India is our close and trusted friend with whom we shared the centuries of culture and civilisation. India and Uzbekistan have wide-scale cooperation," he added

Arziev thanked New Delhi for helping Uzbekistan in establishing an IT park.

"With India, we have inaugurated the IT Park in Uzbekistan. We are really thankful to India for helping us in establishing that park," he said.

Asserting that India and Uzbekistan are strengthening their ties, the envoy said that Indian entrepreneurs are establishing the joint investment programme including in the area of pharmaceuticals, agriculture, hotels, business education, petrochemical and many others.

"We have seen the very active involvement of India entrepreneurs who are entering the Uzbek market. We are very happy to see this dynamism," he said 
As Uzbekistan is celebrating 28the Independence Day, Arziev extended greeting to all citizens.

Arziev said,&nbsp;"On the occasion of 28th Independence Day, my greetings to all Uzbek citizens... Uzbekistan and India have a strategic partnership, we have recently opened two universities in Uzbekistan".

India is a "close and trusted friend" of Uzbekistan and both countries share fast-growing and dynamic relations, said Uzbek Ambassador Farhod Arziev here on Sunday.

India is a "close and trusted friend" of Uzbekistan and both countries share fast-growing and dynamic relations, said Uzbek Ambassador Farhod Arziev here on Sunday. "I should mention the dynamic, fast-growing and deepening cooperation between India and Uzbekistan. India is our strategic partner," said Arziev told ANI. "We really appreciate and value this relationship. India is our close and trusted friend with whom we shared the centuries of culture and civilisation. India and Uzbekistan have wide-scale cooperation," he added Arziev thanked New Delhi for helping Uzbekistan in establishing an IT park. "With India, we have inaugurated the IT Park in Uzbekistan. We are really thankful to India for helping us in establishing that park," he said. Asserting that India and Uzbekistan are strengthening their ties, the envoy said that Indian entrepreneurs are establishing the joint investment programme including in the area of pharmaceuticals, agriculture, hotels, business education, petrochemical and many others. "We have seen the very active involvement of India entrepreneurs who are entering the Uzbek market. We are very happy to see this dynamism," he said As Uzbekistan is celebrating 28the Independence Day, Arziev extended greeting to all citizens. Arziev said, "On the occasion of 28th Independence Day, my greetings to all Uzbek citizens... Uzbekistan and India have a strategic partnership, we have recently opened two universities in Uzbekistan".

India 'close and trusted friend' of Uzbekistan: Ambassador Farhod Arziev

Uzbek envoy to India Farhod Arziev has said that India has an important role at Shanghai Cooperation Organisation(SCO) and New Delhi being a leader in innovation &amp; IT can help the grouping.&nbsp;

Farhod Arziev spoke to WION on a host of issues surrounding the SCO—from India-Uzbekistan ties to connectivity programmes.

WION: How do you see ties between the two countries?

Farhod Arziev: First of all, I like to say election just concluded and it was a big event for India, and as soon as election results were announced with the BJP and NDA winning the elections, President of Uzbekistan H E Mr Shavkat Mirziyoyev sent his congratulatory letter. Soon after reappointment of PM Modi for his second term, President sent the congratulatory message again. Election results show the big trust people of India have on govt and leadership of Narendra Modi and clear testimony of recognition of the results of effort he has been taking to make India more prosperous. Bilateral ties between both countries have been growing dynamically. We have identified new priorities for bilateral ties. With the new government formed under the leadership of PM Modi, we are confident that the strategic relationship will further deepen.&nbsp;

 
WION: Can we expect some high-level visit between the two countries this year?

Farhod Arziev: This year we working on a number of visits at the bilateral level, at the level of different ministries, at parliamentarian level &amp; people to people to contacts expanding. Just recently we had Uzbek India innovation &amp; IT form which shows our cooperation in areas of innovation is also expanding. We also plan to have Uzbek India youth forum. &amp; Also, we will hold, Uzbek India regional summit this year. Gujarat &amp; Andijan are partner regions, and we expect big delegation from Gujarat and other regions of India as well.

WION: How do you see India's role at SCO?

Farhod Arziev: Uzbekistan, we have fully supported full membership of India to SCO, and we believe India's membership to SCO has been a big contribution to further expansion and development of the organisation as an international institution with India being one of the fastest growing countries. It has many things to offer for the development of SCO. Like, expansion of trade and economics or transport or communication, opportunities for SCO members, there we see India can play a big role. In areas like innovation &amp; IT, India holds a strong position, can also play contribution at SCO. Also in areas of tourism, also in areas of cultural exchange, we know India has initiated, put forward the idea of SCO members cinema and we fully support this initiative. Many more areas were India can play an important role within the SCO framework. I would also like to stress the fact, we have very good cooperation and coordination with India within the framework of international and regional organisations like SCO and almost on every agenda at the org we have similar positions.&nbsp;

WION: How to see India's connectivity programmes?

Farhod Arziev: Uzbekistan is not only landlocked but double landlocked country. Connectivity projects can help us reach international markets and reduce the cost and distance in reaching international markets to the interest of my country. We see a big scope for Cooperation with India in expanding the connectivity options between India and Uzbekistan and India and central Asia as a whole and there are many connectivity projects and transport projects, being developed. One of them is Chabahar. We see the project as a positive contribution to expanding connectivity between our regions and of course we working connectivity options via Afghanistan. You know there existing railway connection between Uzbekistan and Mazar-e-Sharif which plans to be expanded to Herat. It can eventually reach to Chabahar port.

Uzbek envoy to India Farhod Arziev has said that India has an important role at Shanghai Cooperation Organisation(SCO) and New Delhi being a leader in innovation & IT can help the grouping.

Uzbek envoy to India Farhod Arziev has said that India has an important role at Shanghai Cooperation Organisation(SCO) and New Delhi being a leader in innovation & IT can help the grouping. Farhod Arziev spoke to WION on a host of issues surrounding the SCO—from India-Uzbekistan ties to connectivity programmes. WION: How do you see ties between the two countries? Farhod Arziev: First of all, I like to say election just concluded and it was a big event for India, and as soon as election results were announced with the BJP and NDA winning the elections, President of Uzbekistan H E Mr Shavkat Mirziyoyev sent his congratulatory letter. Soon after reappointment of PM Modi for his second term, President sent the congratulatory message again. Election results show the big trust people of India have on govt and leadership of Narendra Modi and clear testimony of recognition of the results of effort he has been taking to make India more prosperous. Bilateral ties between both countries have been growing dynamically. We have identified new priorities for bilateral ties. With the new government formed under the leadership of PM Modi, we are confident that the strategic relationship will further deepen. WION: Can we expect some high-level visit between the two countries this year? Farhod Arziev: This year we working on a number of visits at the bilateral level, at the level of different ministries, at parliamentarian level & people to people to contacts expanding. Just recently we had Uzbek India innovation & IT form which shows our cooperation in areas of innovation is also expanding. We also plan to have Uzbek India youth forum. & Also, we will hold, Uzbek India regional summit this year. Gujarat & Andijan are partner regions, and we expect big delegation from Gujarat and other regions of India as well. WION: How do you see India's role at SCO? Farhod Arziev: Uzbekistan, we have fully supported full membership of India to SCO, and we believe India's membership to SCO has been a big contribution to further expansion and development of the organisation as an international institution with India being one of the fastest growing countries. It has many things to offer for the development of SCO. Like, expansion of trade and economics or transport or communication, opportunities for SCO members, there we see India can play a big role. In areas like innovation & IT, India holds a strong position, can also play contribution at SCO. Also in areas of tourism, also in areas of cultural exchange, we know India has initiated, put forward the idea of SCO members cinema and we fully support this initiative. Many more areas were India can play an important role within the SCO framework. I would also like to stress the fact, we have very good cooperation and coordination with India within the framework of international and regional organisations like SCO and almost on every agenda at the org we have similar positions. WION: How to see India's connectivity programmes? Farhod Arziev: Uzbekistan is not only landlocked but double landlocked country. Connectivity projects can help us reach international markets and reduce the cost and distance in reaching international markets to the interest of my country. We see a big scope for Cooperation with India in expanding the connectivity options between India and Uzbekistan and India and central Asia as a whole and there are many connectivity projects and transport projects, being developed. One of them is Chabahar. We see the project as a positive contribution to expanding connectivity between our regions and of course we working connectivity options via Afghanistan. You know there existing railway connection between Uzbekistan and Mazar-e-Sharif which plans to be expanded to Herat. It can eventually reach to Chabahar port.

India has an important role at Shanghai Cooperation Organisation: Uzbekistan envoy

Uzbek Ambassador to India speaks on Chabahar Port

Uzbekistan seems to be becoming India's launchpad to Central Asia. President Shavkat Mirziyoyev has been to India twice in the last four months. First on a state visit in September and then visiting India last week for the Vibrant Gujarat summit in Gandhinagar. Uzbek Ambassador Farhod Arziev spoke to WION on a range of issues, from India-Uzbekistan connectivity, to trade, and the "dynamic" relationship between the two countries.&nbsp;

WION: How do you see connectivity between the two countries?&nbsp; 
Farhod Arziev: I would like to inform you just before the visit of President (Shavkat Mirziyoyev), we have hosted important event — India-Central Asia Dialogues — at the level of foreign ministers in which foreign minister of Afghanistan also participated. For the first time, such format was created and the meeting took place in Samarkand. And all ministers of FMs of central Asia, India and Afghanistan participated. One of the key items of discussion was to expand areas of connectivity between India and central Asia and use transit potential of Afghanistan. So now, discussion among the parties, among Central Asia and India is going on to increase the connectivity opportunities which will create new corridors between Uzbekistan, central Asia and India. We see great transit potential of Afghanistan in this regard. And we believe this will have practical implication and it will be beneficial for all parties.&nbsp;

WION: How do you see the role of Chabahar port?&nbsp; 
FA: Uzbekistan is not only landlocked but double landlocked. Any projects that can help Uzbekistan to reach the international market, we see positively. The projects like Chabahar creates an opportunity for central Asia. We believe it will play a very important, practical role in expanding trade and economic relations.&nbsp;

WION: How do you see ties between the two countries?&nbsp; 
FA: For the past four months, we have had the highest level visits. The second time our president visited on 17th and 18th January and attended the Vibrant Gujarat investment summit. I would like to stress the intensity of visits at the highest level shows how close and how dynamic the relationship between the two countries is. Our relations are getting closer at various levels — political, economic, trade and cultural. In all areas, it is of a comprehensive character. We had a country pavilion where we showed made-in-Uzbekistan products. Our president gave a speech (at Vibrant Gujarat) to highlight key areas of cooperation. Our president highlighted the importance of connectivity between India and Uzbekistan as a means to expand investment. Idea is to establish a railway line project that can connect Uzbekistan and India via &nbsp;Afghanistan through the Chabahar Port. We believe with expanding connectivity, options on trade and volume of trade will increase. Regional cooperation was also highlighted. &nbsp;&nbsp;

WION: How do you see Investment ties? &nbsp;&nbsp; 
FA:&nbsp;Investment and economic cooperation is an important part of Uzbek-India dialogue. Investment was an important part of the agenda of our president when he came on the state visit last year in October. This time, in his talks with PM Modi, importance of investment cooperation was highlighted separately. And I am happy to inform you as part of the visit, a very important and strategic agreement on the supply of Uzbek uranium to India and exchange of documents took place in front of the two leaders at the Vibrant Gujarat summit. Also, to encourage investment projects, we have signed an agreement between EXIM Bank of India and State Investment Committee of Uzbekistan. They have inked framework agreement on line of credit. We are talking about a soft loan. We are getting a line of credit at the volume of 200 million US dollars to implement social and infrastructure projects. We are working with the private sector of India. &nbsp;

Uzbekistan seems to be becoming India's launchpad to Central Asia. President Shavkat Mirziyoyev has been to India twice in the last four months. First on a state visit in September and then visiting India last week for the Vibrant Gujarat summit in Gandhinagar.

Uzbekistan seems to be becoming India's launchpad to Central Asia. President Shavkat Mirziyoyev has been to India twice in the last four months. First on a state visit in September and then visiting India last week for the Vibrant Gujarat summit in Gandhinagar. Uzbek Ambassador Farhod Arziev spoke to WION on a range of issues, from India-Uzbekistan connectivity, to trade, and the "dynamic" relationship between the two countries. WION: How do you see connectivity between the two countries? Farhod Arziev: I would like to inform you just before the visit of President (Shavkat Mirziyoyev), we have hosted important event — India-Central Asia Dialogues — at the level of foreign ministers in which foreign minister of Afghanistan also participated. For the first time, such format was created and the meeting took place in Samarkand. And all ministers of FMs of central Asia, India and Afghanistan participated. One of the key items of discussion was to expand areas of connectivity between India and central Asia and use transit potential of Afghanistan. So now, discussion among the parties, among Central Asia and India is going on to increase the connectivity opportunities which will create new corridors between Uzbekistan, central Asia and India. We see great transit potential of Afghanistan in this regard. And we believe this will have practical implication and it will be beneficial for all parties. WION: How do you see the role of Chabahar port? FA: Uzbekistan is not only landlocked but double landlocked. Any projects that can help Uzbekistan to reach the international market, we see positively. The projects like Chabahar creates an opportunity for central Asia. We believe it will play a very important, practical role in expanding trade and economic relations. WION: How do you see ties between the two countries? FA: For the past four months, we have had the highest level visits. The second time our president visited on 17th and 18th January and attended the Vibrant Gujarat investment summit. I would like to stress the intensity of visits at the highest level shows how close and how dynamic the relationship between the two countries is. Our relations are getting closer at various levels — political, economic, trade and cultural. In all areas, it is of a comprehensive character. We had a country pavilion where we showed made-in-Uzbekistan products. Our president gave a speech (at Vibrant Gujarat) to highlight key areas of cooperation. Our president highlighted the importance of connectivity between India and Uzbekistan as a means to expand investment. Idea is to establish a railway line project that can connect Uzbekistan and India via Afghanistan through the Chabahar Port. We believe with expanding connectivity, options on trade and volume of trade will increase. Regional cooperation was also highlighted. WION: How do you see Investment ties? FA: Investment and economic cooperation is an important part of Uzbek-India dialogue. Investment was an important part of the agenda of our president when he came on the state visit last year in October. This time, in his talks with PM Modi, importance of investment cooperation was highlighted separately. And I am happy to inform you as part of the visit, a very important and strategic agreement on the supply of Uzbek uranium to India and exchange of documents took place in front of the two leaders at the Vibrant Gujarat summit. Also, to encourage investment projects, we have signed an agreement between EXIM Bank of India and State Investment Committee of Uzbekistan. They have inked framework agreement on line of credit. We are talking about a soft loan. We are getting a line of credit at the volume of 200 million US dollars to implement social and infrastructure projects. We are working with the private sector of India.

Uzbek ambassador proposes India-Uzbekistan rail line through Afghanistan, Chabahar port

Uzbekistan seems to be becoming India's launch pad to Central Asia. The president Shavkat Mirziyoyev has been to India twice&nbsp;in the last four months. First on a state visit in September last year and then last week for Vibrant Gujarat summit in Gandhinagar.&nbsp;

Our principal diplomatic correspondent Sidhant Sibal spoke to Uzbek Ambassador Farhod Arziev on a range of issues from Chabahar,&nbsp;Afghanistan to&nbsp;India-Uzbek trade relations.

WION: How do you see connectivity between the two countries?

Farhod Arziev: I would like to inform you just before the visit of President, we have hosted important event India Central Asia dialogues at the level of foreign ministers in which foreign minister of Afghanistan also participated.

For the first time, such format was created and the meeting took place in Samarkand. And&nbsp;foreign ministers of central Asia, India and Afghanistan participated. One of the key items of discussion was to expand areas of connectivity between India and central Asia and use transit potential of Afghanistan.

So now, discussion among the parties, among Central Asia and India is going on to increase the connectivity opportunities which will create new corridors between Uzbekistan, central Asia and India. We see great transit potential of Afghanistan in this regard. And we believe, this will have practical implication and it will be beneficial for all parties.

WION: How do you see the role of Chabahar port?

Farhod Arziev: Uzbekistan is not only landlocked but double landlocked. Any projects that can help Uzbekistan to reach the international market we see positively. The projects like Chabahar creates an opportunity for central Asia. We believe it will play a very important practical role in expanding trade and economic relations.

WION: How do you see ties between two countries?

Farhod Arziev: For the past four months, we have had the highest level visits.

The second time our president visited on January 17, 18 and attended the Vibrant Gujarat investment summit. I would like to stress the intensity of visit at the highest level shows how close and how the dynamic relationship between the two countries are. Our relations are getting&nbsp;closer&nbsp;at various levels - political, economic,&nbsp;trade and cultural.

In all areas, it is a comprehensive character. We had a country pavilion where we showed 'made in Uzbekistan'&nbsp;products. Our president gave a speech (at Vibrant Gujarat) to highlight key areas of cooperation.

Our president highlighted the importance of connectivity between India and Uzbekistan as a means to expand investment. The idea is to establish a railway line project that can connect Uzbekistan and India via &nbsp;Afghanistan through the Chabahar port.

We believe in expanding connectivity through which trade options will increase. Regional cooperation was also highlighted. &nbsp;

WION: How do you see investment ties? &nbsp;

Farhod Arziev: Investment and economic cooperation is an important part of Uzbek-India dialogue. The investment was an important part of the agenda of our President when he came on the state visit in last year in October.

This time in his talks with PM Modi, important investment cooperation was highlighted separately. And I am happy to inform you as part of the visit, a very important and strategic agreement on the supply of Uzbek uranium to India and exchange of documents took place in front of two leaders in Vibrant Gujarat summit hall.

And also to encourage investment project we have signed an agreement between EXIM bank of India and state investment committee of Uzbekistan. They have inked framework agreement on the line of credit. We are talking about a soft loan.

We are getting a line of credit at the volume of $200 million&nbsp;to implement social and infrastructure project. We working with the private sector in India.

Uzbekistan seems to be becoming India's launch pad to Central Asia. The president Shavkat Mirziyoyev has been to India twice in the last four months. First on a state visit in September last year and then last week for Vibrant Gujarat summit in Gandhinagar.

Uzbekistan seems to be becoming India's launch pad to Central Asia. The president Shavkat Mirziyoyev has been to India twice in the last four months. First on a state visit in September last year and then last week for Vibrant Gujarat summit in Gandhinagar. Our principal diplomatic correspondent Sidhant Sibal spoke to Uzbek Ambassador Farhod Arziev on a range of issues from Chabahar, Afghanistan to India-Uzbek trade relations. WION: How do you see connectivity between the two countries? Farhod Arziev: I would like to inform you just before the visit of President, we have hosted important event India Central Asia dialogues at the level of foreign ministers in which foreign minister of Afghanistan also participated. For the first time, such format was created and the meeting took place in Samarkand. And foreign ministers of central Asia, India and Afghanistan participated. One of the key items of discussion was to expand areas of connectivity between India and central Asia and use transit potential of Afghanistan. So now, discussion among the parties, among Central Asia and India is going on to increase the connectivity opportunities which will create new corridors between Uzbekistan, central Asia and India. We see great transit potential of Afghanistan in this regard. And we believe, this will have practical implication and it will be beneficial for all parties. WION: How do you see the role of Chabahar port? Farhod Arziev: Uzbekistan is not only landlocked but double landlocked. Any projects that can help Uzbekistan to reach the international market we see positively. The projects like Chabahar creates an opportunity for central Asia. We believe it will play a very important practical role in expanding trade and economic relations. WION: How do you see ties between two countries? Farhod Arziev: For the past four months, we have had the highest level visits. The second time our president visited on January 17, 18 and attended the Vibrant Gujarat investment summit. I would like to stress the intensity of visit at the highest level shows how close and how the dynamic relationship between the two countries are. Our relations are getting closer at various levels - political, economic, trade and cultural. In all areas, it is a comprehensive character. We had a country pavilion where we showed 'made in Uzbekistan' products. Our president gave a speech (at Vibrant Gujarat) to highlight key areas of cooperation. Our president highlighted the importance of connectivity between India and Uzbekistan as a means to expand investment. The idea is to establish a railway line project that can connect Uzbekistan and India via Afghanistan through the Chabahar port. We believe in expanding connectivity through which trade options will increase. Regional cooperation was also highlighted. WION: How do you see investment ties? Farhod Arziev: Investment and economic cooperation is an important part of Uzbek-India dialogue. The investment was an important part of the agenda of our President when he came on the state visit in last year in October. This time in his talks with PM Modi, important investment cooperation was highlighted separately. And I am happy to inform you as part of the visit, a very important and strategic agreement on the supply of Uzbek uranium to India and exchange of documents took place in front of two leaders in Vibrant Gujarat summit hall. And also to encourage investment project we have signed an agreement between EXIM bank of India and state investment committee of Uzbekistan. They have inked framework agreement on the line of credit. We are talking about a soft loan. We are getting a line of credit at the volume of $200 million to implement social and infrastructure project. We working with the private sector in India.

Rail line through Afghanistan can connect Uzbekistan with Chabahar: Uzbekistan ambassador Arziev

Sushma Swaraj India's Foreign Minister in Uzbekistan

External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj and Afghanistan's foreign minister Salahuddin Rabbani met in Samarkand, Uzbekistan on Sunday on the sidelines of first India-Central Asia Dialogue.

This is the first meeting between both the ministers this year. Afghanistan was also invited to the dialogue. According to a release by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Afghanistan, "Swaraj reaffirmed her country’s commitment toward&nbsp;Afghanistan."&nbsp;

During the meet "both sides exchanged views on the dynamics of the peace talks, the Afghan-leadership and ownership element of the peace process and regional cooperation."

The meeting comes in the backdrop of the Afghan National Security Advisory (NSA) Hamdullah Mohib and US Special Representative of Afghanistan Zalmay Khalilzad's New Delhi visit.

Mohib met his Indian counterpart NSA Ajit Doval and appreciated the assistance provided by India for the economic development and the reconstruction of Afghanistan.

Zalmay, during his maiden visit to&nbsp;India, met Swaraj and foreign secretary Vijay Gokhale. During the meetings, the Indian side briefed Zalmay about Pakistan's destabilizing role and "made it very clear that peace and reconciliation in Afghanistan should be Afghan-owned, Afghan-led and Afghan-controlled," MEA spokesperson Raveesh Kumar noted.

A number of developments have taken place with respect to the Afghan&nbsp;peace process. US media suggest that Washington is keen to withdraw a certain number of its troops&nbsp;from the country. Meanwhile, Afghanistan's neighbours, along with Moscow and Washington but barring India, have also been engaging with the&nbsp;Taliban. India has a policy of not engaging with the Taliban but did participate at a non-official level at Moscow talks on Afghanistan last year in which the group was also present. &nbsp;&nbsp;

External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj and Afghanistan's foreign minister Salahuddin Rabbani met in Samarkand, Uzbekistan on Sunday on the sidelines of first India-Central Asia Dialogue.

External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj and Afghanistan's foreign minister Salahuddin Rabbani met in Samarkand, Uzbekistan on Sunday on the sidelines of first India-Central Asia Dialogue. This is the first meeting between both the ministers this year. Afghanistan was also invited to the dialogue. According to a release by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Afghanistan, "Swaraj reaffirmed her country’s commitment toward Afghanistan." During the meet "both sides exchanged views on the dynamics of the peace talks, the Afghan-leadership and ownership element of the peace process and regional cooperation." The meeting comes in the backdrop of the Afghan National Security Advisory (NSA) Hamdullah Mohib and US Special Representative of Afghanistan Zalmay Khalilzad's New Delhi visit. Mohib met his Indian counterpart NSA Ajit Doval and appreciated the assistance provided by India for the economic development and the reconstruction of Afghanistan. Zalmay, during his maiden visit to India, met Swaraj and foreign secretary Vijay Gokhale. During the meetings, the Indian side briefed Zalmay about Pakistan's destabilizing role and "made it very clear that peace and reconciliation in Afghanistan should be Afghan-owned, Afghan-led and Afghan-controlled," MEA spokesperson Raveesh Kumar noted. A number of developments have taken place with respect to the Afghan peace process. US media suggest that Washington is keen to withdraw a certain number of its troops from the country. Meanwhile, Afghanistan's neighbours, along with Moscow and Washington but barring India, have also been engaging with the Taliban. India has a policy of not engaging with the Taliban but did participate at a non-official level at Moscow talks on Afghanistan last year in which the group was also present.

India-Central Asia Dialogue: Indian, Afghan foreign ministers meet in Uzbekistan

External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj Saturday left for a two-day visit to Uzbekistan to attend the first India-Central Asia Dialogue which is expected to focus on a plethora of regional issues including enhancing connectivity to war-ravaged Afghanistan.

The Dialogue, being held in Samarkand, will be co-chaired by Swaraj and Uzbekistan's Foreign Minister Abdulaziz Kamilov.

The Foreign Minister of Afghanistan will also participate in the dialogue as a special invitee for the session dedicated to connectivity issues in the region, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said.

Foreign ministers of Kyrgyz Republic, Tajikistan and Turkmenistan and the First Deputy Foreign Minister of Kazakhstan will also participate in the dialogue.

"Building upon shared history &amp; culture. EAM @SushmaSwaraj emplanes for Samarkand to participate at 1st India-Central Asia Dialogue. EAM will co-chair Dialogue with Uzbek Foreign Minister Kamilov. Foreign Ministers from other Central Asian countries and Afghanistan will attend," MEA Spokesperson Raveesh Kumar tweeted minutes before Swaraj left for Uzbekistan.

Bound together by shared history and cultural linkages, India and the Central Asian states look forward to the Dialogue as an important initiative to enhance their cooperation in wide-ranging spheres including exploring ways to substantially enhance India's economic involvement in business and development sector of Central Asia, the MEA had said on Wednesday.

With Afghanistan joining, the participants of the Dialogue will also deliberate on developing viable connectivity options between India and Afghanistan and Central Asia to further facilitate trade and economic activity in the region, it said.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi had visited five Central Asian countries in 2015 with an aim to deepen India's engagement with the hydrocarbon-rich region. 
Swaraj visited the region last August.

Officials said the India-Central Asia Dialogue, with the participation of Afghanistan, is expected to take India's engagement with all the countries of the region to a new level.&nbsp;

External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj Saturday left for a two-day visit to Uzbekistan to attend the first India-Central Asia Dialogue which is expected to focus on a plethora of regional issues including enhancing connectivity to war-ravaged Afghanistan.

External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj Saturday left for a two-day visit to Uzbekistan to attend the first India-Central Asia Dialogue which is expected to focus on a plethora of regional issues including enhancing connectivity to war-ravaged Afghanistan. The Dialogue, being held in Samarkand, will be co-chaired by Swaraj and Uzbekistan's Foreign Minister Abdulaziz Kamilov. The Foreign Minister of Afghanistan will also participate in the dialogue as a special invitee for the session dedicated to connectivity issues in the region, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said. Foreign ministers of Kyrgyz Republic, Tajikistan and Turkmenistan and the First Deputy Foreign Minister of Kazakhstan will also participate in the dialogue. "Building upon shared history & culture. EAM @SushmaSwaraj emplanes for Samarkand to participate at 1st India-Central Asia Dialogue. EAM will co-chair Dialogue with Uzbek Foreign Minister Kamilov. Foreign Ministers from other Central Asian countries and Afghanistan will attend," MEA Spokesperson Raveesh Kumar tweeted minutes before Swaraj left for Uzbekistan. Bound together by shared history and cultural linkages, India and the Central Asian states look forward to the Dialogue as an important initiative to enhance their cooperation in wide-ranging spheres including exploring ways to substantially enhance India's economic involvement in business and development sector of Central Asia, the MEA had said on Wednesday. With Afghanistan joining, the participants of the Dialogue will also deliberate on developing viable connectivity options between India and Afghanistan and Central Asia to further facilitate trade and economic activity in the region, it said. Prime Minister Narendra Modi had visited five Central Asian countries in 2015 with an aim to deepen India's engagement with the hydrocarbon-rich region. Swaraj visited the region last August. Officials said the India-Central Asia Dialogue, with the participation of Afghanistan, is expected to take India's engagement with all the countries of the region to a new level.

Sushma Swaraj on 2-day visit to Uzbekistan, will attend first India-Central Asia Dialogue

By Nick Megoran

Border disputes have recently taken on renewed importance, threatening political crisis in the UK, US and EU. Yet 2018 saw positive steps towards resolving some of the world’s most difficult border conflicts, between Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan and Ethiopia and Eritrea. What lessons can be drawn from these examples?

International boundaries are not the same as international borders. Boundaries are invisible vertical planes extending upwards into airspace and downwards into the subsoil, marking the legal limit of states. Borders, on the other hand, are the practices associated with managing movement over boundaries, such as customs checkpoints, passport controls, and fences. Although literally at the edge of states, they can symbolically figure at the heart of a nation’s politics.

This was amply demonstrated in 2018. In the UK, the “Irish backstop” question plunged the country into an unprecedented political crisis. In the Mediterranean, meanwhile, over 2,200 migrants died attempting to evade the EU’s draconian border controls. At the same time, political gains have been made by parties of the right who regard the EU’s border-control policies as not draconian enough.

Across the Atlantic, meanwhile, US President Donald Trump’s tub-thumping over a “caravan” of Central American migrants supposedly threatening the US border made 2017’s hotly-contested midterm elections even uglier. Tussles with lawmakers over funding a border wall with Mexico have now led to a government shutdown.

All this is a long way away from the “borderless world” that 1990s globalisation theorists such as Kenichi Ohmae predicted would follow the end of the Cold War. Instead, we are seeing a “rebordering” of the world, the physical and symbolic reinforcement of what historian Timothy Synder has called “the wall around the West”.

But the Western perspective isn’t the only one. Indeed, 2018 saw a number of hopeful and instructive developments in Asia and Africa.

Central Asia

Created in the 1920s by the Soviet Union, Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan became independent states in 1991. Their mutual boundary was an internal division within the Soviet Union, and was never intended to be an international boundary. Consequently, when the two states became independent, there were numerous disputes about its precise course. Villages, ethnic groups, families, farms, transport links and utility provision crisscrossed the borderlands.

Nonetheless, in the late 1990s and early 2000s, the authoritarian president of Uzbekistan, Islam Karimov, imposed unilateral border controls. Visas were demanded, crossborder bridges demolished, roads blocked, and bus routes terminated. Villages that straddled the boundary were demolished and residents forcibly moved elsewhere. Barbed wire fences were erected, unmarked mine fields laid, and soldiers deployed to the border frequently used violence on petty traders and other borderlanders. A boundary commission was established, but its work stalled as relations between the two states deteriorated.

Populists in Kyrgyzstan reacted furiously, alleging that Uzbekistan was invading them. Inter-ethnic dynamics within Kyrgyzstan worsened, culminating in 2010 with pogroms against the country’s Uzbek minority.

Karimov died in 2016 and was succeeded by his protege, Shavkat Mirziyoyev. Mirziyoyev prioritised rebuilding regional relations, kick-starting delimitation negotiations and in late 2017 unilaterally reopened many border crossings.

In 2018, I visited the border and saw crowds of people crossing for trade and to visit family members, many of whom they had not seen for a decade and a half. Ethnic and interstate relations have improved as a result.

Ethiopia-Eritrea

An even more striking example from 2018 was the ending of the Ethiopian-Eritrean border conflict. As with Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan, this boundary was a colonial legacy that artificially divided populations – and between 1998 and 2000, the two countries fought a bitter border war during which some 70,000 people died. The disputed territories were relatively small and of little economic value, but became heavily politicised by the militaristic governments of both countries.

The Eritrea–Ethiopia Boundary Commission (EEBC) was established under a 2000 peace agreement to end the war. It rendered its decision in 2002 and planned to oversee demarcation in 2003. Although previously agreeing that the ruling would be binding, Ethiopia took the highly unusual position of refusing to accept it. Despite pressure from the UN Security Council, troops continued to occupy disputed territory, refugees remained in camps, and crossborder contact was minimal. The threat of renewed war continued.

But in April 2018, the relatively youthful Abiy Ahmed took over as Ethiopian prime minister. He moved rapidly to improve relations with Eritrea, accepting the EEBC ruling and pulling troops back from disputed areas. A mere three months after taking office, he signed a peace accord with his Eritrean counterpart, formally ending the war. This was accompanied by joyful scenes of families reunited after two decades.

How to make good borders

Good borders are not about technical lines on a map, but political will. Changes in leadership in Uzbekistan and Ethiopia were crucial in restarting boundary delimitation and border management processes that had become deadlocked. As a result, families have been reunited, ethnic tensions reduced, and trade opportunities increased.

There are broader lessons here. The impasses created by the Irish border question in the Brexit negotiations and Trump’s border wall have created a political crisis, poisoned politics, and fanned xenophobia. More migrants die each year because of the EU’s militarised border controls than at any other border on Earth. These outcomes are not inevitable; they are political choices.

The EU, UK and US like to see themselves as moral standard-bearers in the international community. When it comes to border politics, however, they could do a lot worse than look to Uzbekistan and Ethiopia in 2019.

(Nick Megoran is Reader in Political Geography, Newcastle University)

(This article was originally published on The Conversation. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/need-to-solve-a-border-dispute-look-to-ethiopia-and-uzbekistan-109149">original article</a>)

(Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL)

 
&nbsp;

By Nick Megoran Border disputes have recently taken on renewed importance, threatening political crisis in the UK, US and EU. Yet 2018 saw positive steps towards resolving some of the world’s most difficult border conflicts, between Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan and Ethiopia and Eritrea.

By Nick Megoran Border disputes have recently taken on renewed importance, threatening political crisis in the UK, US and EU. Yet 2018 saw positive steps towards resolving some of the world’s most difficult border conflicts, between Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan and Ethiopia and Eritrea. What lessons can be drawn from these examples? International boundaries are not the same as international borders. Boundaries are invisible vertical planes extending upwards into airspace and downwards into the subsoil, marking the legal limit of states. Borders, on the other hand, are the practices associated with managing movement over boundaries, such as customs checkpoints, passport controls, and fences. Although literally at the edge of states, they can symbolically figure at the heart of a nation’s politics. This was amply demonstrated in 2018. In the UK, the “Irish backstop” question plunged the country into an unprecedented political crisis. In the Mediterranean, meanwhile, over 2,200 migrants died attempting to evade the EU’s draconian border controls. At the same time, political gains have been made by parties of the right who regard the EU’s border-control policies as not draconian enough. Across the Atlantic, meanwhile, US President Donald Trump’s tub-thumping over a “caravan” of Central American migrants supposedly threatening the US border made 2017’s hotly-contested midterm elections even uglier. Tussles with lawmakers over funding a border wall with Mexico have now led to a government shutdown. All this is a long way away from the “borderless world” that 1990s globalisation theorists such as Kenichi Ohmae predicted would follow the end of the Cold War. Instead, we are seeing a “rebordering” of the world, the physical and symbolic reinforcement of what historian Timothy Synder has called “the wall around the West”. But the Western perspective isn’t the only one. Indeed, 2018 saw a number of hopeful and instructive developments in Asia and Africa. Central Asia Created in the 1920s by the Soviet Union, Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan became independent states in 1991. Their mutual boundary was an internal division within the Soviet Union, and was never intended to be an international boundary. Consequently, when the two states became independent, there were numerous disputes about its precise course. Villages, ethnic groups, families, farms, transport links and utility provision crisscrossed the borderlands. Nonetheless, in the late 1990s and early 2000s, the authoritarian president of Uzbekistan, Islam Karimov, imposed unilateral border controls. Visas were demanded, crossborder bridges demolished, roads blocked, and bus routes terminated. Villages that straddled the boundary were demolished and residents forcibly moved elsewhere. Barbed wire fences were erected, unmarked mine fields laid, and soldiers deployed to the border frequently used violence on petty traders and other borderlanders. A boundary commission was established, but its work stalled as relations between the two states deteriorated. Populists in Kyrgyzstan reacted furiously, alleging that Uzbekistan was invading them. Inter-ethnic dynamics within Kyrgyzstan worsened, culminating in 2010 with pogroms against the country’s Uzbek minority. Karimov died in 2016 and was succeeded by his protege, Shavkat Mirziyoyev. Mirziyoyev prioritised rebuilding regional relations, kick-starting delimitation negotiations and in late 2017 unilaterally reopened many border crossings. In 2018, I visited the border and saw crowds of people crossing for trade and to visit family members, many of whom they had not seen for a decade and a half. Ethnic and interstate relations have improved as a result. Ethiopia-Eritrea An even more striking example from 2018 was the ending of the Ethiopian-Eritrean border conflict. As with Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan, this boundary was a colonial legacy that artificially divided populations – and between 1998 and 2000, the two countries fought a bitter border war during which some 70,000 people died. The disputed territories were relatively small and of little economic value, but became heavily politicised by the militaristic governments of both countries. The Eritrea–Ethiopia Boundary Commission (EEBC) was established under a 2000 peace agreement to end the war. It rendered its decision in 2002 and planned to oversee demarcation in 2003. Although previously agreeing that the ruling would be binding, Ethiopia took the highly unusual position of refusing to accept it. Despite pressure from the UN Security Council, troops continued to occupy disputed territory, refugees remained in camps, and crossborder contact was minimal. The threat of renewed war continued. But in April 2018, the relatively youthful Abiy Ahmed took over as Ethiopian prime minister. He moved rapidly to improve relations with Eritrea, accepting the EEBC ruling and pulling troops back from disputed areas. A mere three months after taking office, he signed a peace accord with his Eritrean counterpart, formally ending the war. This was accompanied by joyful scenes of families reunited after two decades. How to make good borders Good borders are not about technical lines on a map, but political will. Changes in leadership in Uzbekistan and Ethiopia were crucial in restarting boundary delimitation and border management processes that had become deadlocked. As a result, families have been reunited, ethnic tensions reduced, and trade opportunities increased. There are broader lessons here. The impasses created by the Irish border question in the Brexit negotiations and Trump’s border wall have created a political crisis, poisoned politics, and fanned xenophobia. More migrants die each year because of the EU’s militarised border controls than at any other border on Earth. These outcomes are not inevitable; they are political choices. The EU, UK and US like to see themselves as moral standard-bearers in the international community. When it comes to border politics, however, they could do a lot worse than look to Uzbekistan and Ethiopia in 2019. (Nick Megoran is Reader in Political Geography, Newcastle University) (This article was originally published on The Conversation. Read the original article) (Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL)

Need to solve a border dispute? Look to Ethiopia and Uzbekistan

In September 2018 Uzbek blogger Davronbek Tojialiyev quietly packed some clothes in a bag and waited for a seemingly imminent arrest, following the detention of several other online activists.

But police have never come for him and the bespectacled 34-year-old writes on about sensitive issues in breaks between his work as translator, one of a handful of bloggers breaking long-time taboos by criticising state policies and officials.

The detentions in September were an apparent slap on the wrist for those who had, in the authorities' eyes, gone too far. However, it is unlikely to stop people like Davronbek from pushing the boundaries.

Publicly criticising the Tashkent government was something unthinkable for its 32 million citizens under Islam Karimov, who had run the mostly Muslim former Soviet republic from 1989 until his death in 2016, brooking no dissent.

"During Karimov's time bloggers could write only about small issues, mostly social, it was not possible to talk about serious and political subjects," says Tojialiyev.

Karimov's successor, Shavkat Mirziyoyev, has proclaimed a new era of openness, moved to curb the powers of the feared security forces, and launched a website through which citizens could raise their grievances.

This has helped Tashkent improve its image abroad and start working on attracting badly-needed foreign investment. It also encouraged bloggers to abandon self-censorship and question policies they saw as excessively strict and unnecessary.

Success has encouraged bloggers to become more assertive. So when the government published a draft of school uniform regulations in June, some criticised it for disallowing hijabs, headscarves worn by Muslim girls and women.

Some online activists, including Tojialiyev, strongly criticised the proposed regulations, demanding that female students be allowed to wear hijabs.

Several prominent bloggers attacked the regulations some even called for protests. They were later joined by an imam of one of Tashkent's mosques who urged Mirziyoyev to intervene.

The pushback was swift: police arrested several bloggers and the activist imam was dismissed. One of the bloggers, Adham Olimov, told Reuters a court had sentenced him to 15 days of administrative arrest on charges of disobeying police orders - which he denies.

But while Tojialiyev's optimism has waned, his determination has not.

Tojialiyev says many bloggers have since stopped writing about sensitive issues and friends have asked him to do the same, but he has not experienced any pressure or intimidation from the authorities.

In September 2018 Uzbek blogger Davronbek Tojialiyev quietly packed some clothes in a bag and waited for a seemingly imminent arrest, following the detention of several other online activists.

In September 2018 Uzbek blogger Davronbek Tojialiyev quietly packed some clothes in a bag and waited for a seemingly imminent arrest, following the detention of several other online activists. But police have never come for him and the bespectacled 34-year-old writes on about sensitive issues in breaks between his work as translator, one of a handful of bloggers breaking long-time taboos by criticising state policies and officials. The detentions in September were an apparent slap on the wrist for those who had, in the authorities' eyes, gone too far. However, it is unlikely to stop people like Davronbek from pushing the boundaries. Publicly criticising the Tashkent government was something unthinkable for its 32 million citizens under Islam Karimov, who had run the mostly Muslim former Soviet republic from 1989 until his death in 2016, brooking no dissent. "During Karimov's time bloggers could write only about small issues, mostly social, it was not possible to talk about serious and political subjects," says Tojialiyev. Karimov's successor, Shavkat Mirziyoyev, has proclaimed a new era of openness, moved to curb the powers of the feared security forces, and launched a website through which citizens could raise their grievances. This has helped Tashkent improve its image abroad and start working on attracting badly-needed foreign investment. It also encouraged bloggers to abandon self-censorship and question policies they saw as excessively strict and unnecessary. Success has encouraged bloggers to become more assertive. So when the government published a draft of school uniform regulations in June, some criticised it for disallowing hijabs, headscarves worn by Muslim girls and women. Some online activists, including Tojialiyev, strongly criticised the proposed regulations, demanding that female students be allowed to wear hijabs. Several prominent bloggers attacked the regulations some even called for protests. They were later joined by an imam of one of Tashkent's mosques who urged Mirziyoyev to intervene. The pushback was swift: police arrested several bloggers and the activist imam was dismissed. One of the bloggers, Adham Olimov, told Reuters a court had sentenced him to 15 days of administrative arrest on charges of disobeying police orders - which he denies. But while Tojialiyev's optimism has waned, his determination has not. Tojialiyev says many bloggers have since stopped writing about sensitive issues and friends have asked him to do the same, but he has not experienced any pressure or intimidation from the authorities.

Uzbek bloggers test - and find - limits of newly-found freedom

Russia and Uzbekistan on Friday hailed the construction of an $11 billion nuclear power plant that should help solve an energy deficit in the Central Asian country while binding it tighter to Moscow politically.

Russian President Vladimir Putin was paying a first state visit to Uzbek counterpart Shavkat Mirziyoyev since Mirziyoyev replaced the late Islam Karimov, who ruled for nearly three decades before his death in 2016.&nbsp;

During the visit the two countries signed deals worth $27.1 billion, according to the Uzbek economy ministry.&nbsp;

"Uzbekistan is our loyal ally and our strategic partner... We will do all we can to strengthen our cooperation," Putin said while meeting Uzbek counterpart Shavkat Mirziyoyev in the capital Tashkent.

"Dear Russian friends, welcome to Uzbekistan!" read billboards along the main roads of Tashkent where Russian and Uzbek flags flew side by side.&nbsp;

The nuclear power plant, set to be completed by 2028, has strategic significance for Moscow which is looking to reassert its economic and political clout in Central Asia amid fierce competition from China and other players.&nbsp;

According to the Russian Rosatom nuclear energy agency overseeing the project the plant's output should account for a fifth of Uzbekistan's overall power generation. &nbsp;

Putin suggested on Friday that the facility -- the first of its kind in ex-Soviet Central Asia -- might also help provide power to other countries in the region where the Chernobyl disaster and Soviet-era atomic weapons testing in the Kazakh steppe have coloured attitudes towards nuclear power.&nbsp;

Authoritarian regime intact

Addressing the two leaders via tele-link from the western region of Navoi where the plant is set to be built, Rosatom chief Alexey Likhachev assured Uzbekistan that the plant would be built in strict accordance with international standards. &nbsp;

"The main criteria here is safety," Likhachev said at a ceremony marking the start of the project.&nbsp;

Bilateral trade between Russia and Uzbekistan jumped by more than a third year-on-year to $3.7 billion in 2017 as Uzbekistan shakes off nearly three decades of economic isolation under Karimov's rule.

Karimov, who died in 2016, maintained generally good relations with Moscow but was wary of the Kremlin's influence over Uzbekistan and the Central Asian region.

Mirziyoyev, who served as Karimov's prime minister for 13 years, has kept the authoritarian regime intact while also reversing some of his predecessor's most controversial policies.

Putin on Friday paid tribute to reforms launched by Mirziyoyev that have whetted the appetites of foreign investors eyeing new markets in a commodity-rich country of around 33 million people.&nbsp;

"We see how quickly and how fundamentally the situation in Uzbekistan is changing, how reforms are being organised and carried out," Putin said.&nbsp;

Under Mirziyoyev, the government has overhauled its foreign exchange policies, pledged to modernise its banking system and re-launched ties with the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development that were effectively severed more than a decade ago.

Among the other economic agreements signed at a business forum running parallel to the two leaders' talks was a memorandum of understanding between Russia's Lukoil energy major and Uzbek state energy company Uzbekneftgaz.&nbsp;

Security was also high on the agenda during talks between the two heads of state. &nbsp;

Under Mirziyoyev, Uzbekistan has declared its readiness to host talks between the Taliban and the government of Afghanistan, with whom Uzbekistan shares a border.

"It is in our common interest to normalise the situation in Afghanistan," Putin said, backing the initiative.

Russia and Uzbekistan on Friday hailed the construction of an $11 billion nuclear power plant that should help solve an energy deficit in the Central Asian country while binding it tighter to Moscow politically.

Russia and Uzbekistan on Friday hailed the construction of an $11 billion nuclear power plant that should help solve an energy deficit in the Central Asian country while binding it tighter to Moscow politically. Russian President Vladimir Putin was paying a first state visit to Uzbek counterpart Shavkat Mirziyoyev since Mirziyoyev replaced the late Islam Karimov, who ruled for nearly three decades before his death in 2016. During the visit the two countries signed deals worth $27.1 billion, according to the Uzbek economy ministry. "Uzbekistan is our loyal ally and our strategic partner... We will do all we can to strengthen our cooperation," Putin said while meeting Uzbek counterpart Shavkat Mirziyoyev in the capital Tashkent. "Dear Russian friends, welcome to Uzbekistan!" read billboards along the main roads of Tashkent where Russian and Uzbek flags flew side by side. The nuclear power plant, set to be completed by 2028, has strategic significance for Moscow which is looking to reassert its economic and political clout in Central Asia amid fierce competition from China and other players. According to the Russian Rosatom nuclear energy agency overseeing the project the plant's output should account for a fifth of Uzbekistan's overall power generation. Putin suggested on Friday that the facility -- the first of its kind in ex-Soviet Central Asia -- might also help provide power to other countries in the region where the Chernobyl disaster and Soviet-era atomic weapons testing in the Kazakh steppe have coloured attitudes towards nuclear power. Authoritarian regime intact Addressing the two leaders via tele-link from the western region of Navoi where the plant is set to be built, Rosatom chief Alexey Likhachev assured Uzbekistan that the plant would be built in strict accordance with international standards. "The main criteria here is safety," Likhachev said at a ceremony marking the start of the project. Bilateral trade between Russia and Uzbekistan jumped by more than a third year-on-year to $3.7 billion in 2017 as Uzbekistan shakes off nearly three decades of economic isolation under Karimov's rule. Karimov, who died in 2016, maintained generally good relations with Moscow but was wary of the Kremlin's influence over Uzbekistan and the Central Asian region. Mirziyoyev, who served as Karimov's prime minister for 13 years, has kept the authoritarian regime intact while also reversing some of his predecessor's most controversial policies. Putin on Friday paid tribute to reforms launched by Mirziyoyev that have whetted the appetites of foreign investors eyeing new markets in a commodity-rich country of around 33 million people. "We see how quickly and how fundamentally the situation in Uzbekistan is changing, how reforms are being organised and carried out," Putin said. Under Mirziyoyev, the government has overhauled its foreign exchange policies, pledged to modernise its banking system and re-launched ties with the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development that were effectively severed more than a decade ago. Among the other economic agreements signed at a business forum running parallel to the two leaders' talks was a memorandum of understanding between Russia's Lukoil energy major and Uzbek state energy company Uzbekneftgaz. Security was also high on the agenda during talks between the two heads of state. Under Mirziyoyev, Uzbekistan has declared its readiness to host talks between the Taliban and the government of Afghanistan, with whom Uzbekistan shares a border. "It is in our common interest to normalise the situation in Afghanistan," Putin said, backing the initiative.

Russia, Uzbekistan hail $11 billion nuclear plant project during Putin visit

The Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi approved agreements between India and Uzbekistan for cooperation in various sectors, including tourism, pharmaceuticals and trade.

A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was approved for cooperation in the sphere of law and justice between the two countries.

The MoU takes care of concerns and requirements in the field of exchange of experience by legal professionals, government functionaries and their training and effective legal aid mechanism for resolution.

The agreement is expected to facilitate greater cooperation between India and Uzbekistan in providing legal services in both countries in the field of exchange of experience through information sharing visits, and training between both countries on enhancing legal capacities of government functionaries.

Another MoU was approved by the Cabinet for strengthening cooperation in the field of tourism, which is expected to be signed during the Uzbekistan President Shavkat Mirziyoyev`s visit to India on October 1.

The signing of the MoU in the field of tourism will help the two countries in creating an institutional mechanism for enhancing cooperation in the tourism sector.

It will also help in increasing foreign tourist arrivals from Uzbekistan to the country.

This, in turn, will result in economic development and employment generation.

The agreement shall create favourable conditions for long-term tourism cooperation for the mutual benefits of all stakeholders within the broader framework and areas of cooperation.

In addition, the MoU shall explore to incorporate the best practices to implement the measures that will realise the objectives set out in it.

Furthermore, the Cabinet approved a MoU between the two countries for the establishment of an Uzbek-Indian Free Pharmaceutical Zone in the Andijan Region of Uzbekistan, which will also be signed during Mirziyoyev`s visit to India.

The MoU will create an enabling framework of cooperation for setting up an Uzbek-Indian Free Pharmaceuticals Zone in Andijan region of Uzbekistan.

It will also facilitate Indian pharmaceutical and biopharmaceutical companies to invest and establish production facilities in the Uzbek-Indian Free Pharma Zone of Andijan for the manufacture of pharmaceutical products.

The Cabinet also approved the signing of a MoU between India and Uzbekistan for increased cooperation in the areas of trade, industry and research and development of pharmaceutical products.

In view of the importance of the growth of the pharmaceutical industry in both countries and importance of mutual cooperation in trade, production, research and development in the pharmaceutical sector, both the governments have been trying to establish a formal mechanism of bilateral cooperation.

The MoU will explore the possibilities of production of medicines, including Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients (APIs) in different therapeutic segments in both countries.

It will facilitate the exchange of information on trade and registration procedures, legal and regulatory requirements for export and import of pharmaceuticals products, including APIs.

Another MoU was approved for mutual cooperation in combating illicit trafficking in narcotics, drugs, psychotropic substances and precursors, and is expected to help in mutual cooperation in the regulation of narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances and in combating drug trafficking.

It is an effective framework to deal with all issues requiring mutual assistance and cooperation in the areas identified.

The Cabinet also approved the signing of an agreement between India and Uzbekistan on cooperation in health and medical science.

It covers the following areas of cooperation - expanding opportunities for the development of business cooperation in the field of medical equipment, including equipment for teaching and research laboratories of institutions of medical education, and pharmaceutical products, strengthening of primary health care and setting up of healthcare facilities, medical and health research development, as well as exchange of experience in these areas, among others.

A working group will be set up to further elaborate the details of cooperation and to oversee the implementation of the agreement.

In the field of agriculture and allied sectors, a MoU was approved for cooperation in the exchange of information regarding laws, standards and product samples of mutual interest, establishment of joint agriculture clusters in Uzbekistan, exchange of experience in the field of crop production and their diversification, exchange of experience in the field of seed production based on modern technology, and application of technology for enhanced water use efficiency in agriculture and allied sectors, including irrigation, conduct of joint scientific research on genetics, breeding, biotechnology, plant protection and soil productivity conservation, among others.

The agreement provides for the constitution of a joint working group comprising representatives from both countries, the task of which would be to prepare plans of cooperation, provide solutions to the problems arising during the implementation of the agreement and to monitor the implementation of tasks determined by the parties.

The meetings of the working group shall take place at least every two years, alternately in India and in Uzbekistan.

The agreement shall enter into force on the date of its signing and shall remain in force for a period of five years, is automatically extended for a subsequent period of five years.

The agreement shall be terminated after six months from the date of receipt of notification of either party of its intention to terminate.

The Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi approved agreements between India and Uzbekistan for cooperation in various sectors, including tourism, pharmaceuticals and trade.

The Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi approved agreements between India and Uzbekistan for cooperation in various sectors, including tourism, pharmaceuticals and trade. A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was approved for cooperation in the sphere of law and justice between the two countries. The MoU takes care of concerns and requirements in the field of exchange of experience by legal professionals, government functionaries and their training and effective legal aid mechanism for resolution. The agreement is expected to facilitate greater cooperation between India and Uzbekistan in providing legal services in both countries in the field of exchange of experience through information sharing visits, and training between both countries on enhancing legal capacities of government functionaries. Another MoU was approved by the Cabinet for strengthening cooperation in the field of tourism, which is expected to be signed during the Uzbekistan President Shavkat Mirziyoyev`s visit to India on October 1. The signing of the MoU in the field of tourism will help the two countries in creating an institutional mechanism for enhancing cooperation in the tourism sector. It will also help in increasing foreign tourist arrivals from Uzbekistan to the country. This, in turn, will result in economic development and employment generation. The agreement shall create favourable conditions for long-term tourism cooperation for the mutual benefits of all stakeholders within the broader framework and areas of cooperation. In addition, the MoU shall explore to incorporate the best practices to implement the measures that will realise the objectives set out in it. Furthermore, the Cabinet approved a MoU between the two countries for the establishment of an Uzbek-Indian Free Pharmaceutical Zone in the Andijan Region of Uzbekistan, which will also be signed during Mirziyoyev`s visit to India. The MoU will create an enabling framework of cooperation for setting up an Uzbek-Indian Free Pharmaceuticals Zone in Andijan region of Uzbekistan. It will also facilitate Indian pharmaceutical and biopharmaceutical companies to invest and establish production facilities in the Uzbek-Indian Free Pharma Zone of Andijan for the manufacture of pharmaceutical products. The Cabinet also approved the signing of a MoU between India and Uzbekistan for increased cooperation in the areas of trade, industry and research and development of pharmaceutical products. In view of the importance of the growth of the pharmaceutical industry in both countries and importance of mutual cooperation in trade, production, research and development in the pharmaceutical sector, both the governments have been trying to establish a formal mechanism of bilateral cooperation. The MoU will explore the possibilities of production of medicines, including Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients (APIs) in different therapeutic segments in both countries. It will facilitate the exchange of information on trade and registration procedures, legal and regulatory requirements for export and import of pharmaceuticals products, including APIs. Another MoU was approved for mutual cooperation in combating illicit trafficking in narcotics, drugs, psychotropic substances and precursors, and is expected to help in mutual cooperation in the regulation of narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances and in combating drug trafficking. It is an effective framework to deal with all issues requiring mutual assistance and cooperation in the areas identified. The Cabinet also approved the signing of an agreement between India and Uzbekistan on cooperation in health and medical science. It covers the following areas of cooperation - expanding opportunities for the development of business cooperation in the field of medical equipment, including equipment for teaching and research laboratories of institutions of medical education, and pharmaceutical products, strengthening of primary health care and setting up of healthcare facilities, medical and health research development, as well as exchange of experience in these areas, among others. A working group will be set up to further elaborate the details of cooperation and to oversee the implementation of the agreement. In the field of agriculture and allied sectors, a MoU was approved for cooperation in the exchange of information regarding laws, standards and product samples of mutual interest, establishment of joint agriculture clusters in Uzbekistan, exchange of experience in the field of crop production and their diversification, exchange of experience in the field of seed production based on modern technology, and application of technology for enhanced water use efficiency in agriculture and allied sectors, including irrigation, conduct of joint scientific research on genetics, breeding, biotechnology, plant protection and soil productivity conservation, among others. The agreement provides for the constitution of a joint working group comprising representatives from both countries, the task of which would be to prepare plans of cooperation, provide solutions to the problems arising during the implementation of the agreement and to monitor the implementation of tasks determined by the parties. The meetings of the working group shall take place at least every two years, alternately in India and in Uzbekistan. The agreement shall enter into force on the date of its signing and shall remain in force for a period of five years, is automatically extended for a subsequent period of five years. The agreement shall be terminated after six months from the date of receipt of notification of either party of its intention to terminate.

Cabinet approves India-Uzbekistan MoUs in tourism, trade

Special envoy of Uzbekistan President, Ilhom Nematov, on Tuesday said that Tashkent is always ready to assist and provide everything to New Delhi with regard to former Prime Minister Lal Bahadur Shastri.&nbsp;

"India is always helpful. It is an important partner for us. Uzbekistan is ready to provide everything for India," Nematov told ANI in response to a question on whether Uzbekistan will provide information to India with regard to the death of former Prime Minister Lal Bahadur Shastri.&nbsp;

Shastri died in Tashkent, which was then part of erstwhile Soviet Union, in the early hours of January 11, 1966, after signing the Tashkent Accord with Pakistan President Mohammad Ayub Khan on January 10, 1966. He reportedly died of heart attack, but there have been various theories on how the former Prime Minister passed away. Some even suspect he died of poisoning. With the mystery surrounding Shastri's death, there have been demands for declassifying documents related to his demise.&nbsp;

Meanwhile, ahead of the Uzbekistan President Shavkat Mirziyoyev's state visit to India, the Embassy of Uzbekistan in Delhi, in cooperation with National Association of Electronic Mass Media of Uzbekistan, organised a series of cultural events dedicated to showcasing the shared legacy and deep cultural ties of the people of India and Uzbekistan.&nbsp;

The Uzbek exhibition features collections from the Rampur Raza Library, the National Museum of India, the Khuda Bakhsh Oriental Public Library and will be displayed at the National Museum of India from September 25 until October 26. The exhibition is accompanied by conference of scholars, a presentation of books to universities and cultural organisations of India and other special events at the Embassy of Uzbekistan in Delhi.&nbsp;

A series of similar presentations will be held at Jawaharlal Nehru University, Jamia Millia Islamia and Islamic Cultural Centre of India. The first of these events was held on January 20 at the Lal Bahadur Shastri Memorial, where the Shastri Museum, was gifted a unique collection of books. Illustrated in 10 volumes, the collection of books depicts the vibrant legacy of the Republic of Uzbekistan that is highlighted in art collections from all over the world.&nbsp;

Admired by several generations of Uzbeks, Shastri is remembered fondly for the historic declaration of 1966 between India and Pakistan, which he signed in Tashkent, shortly before his death. The Lal Bahadur Shastri Centre for Indian Culture, which works under the Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR), was established in Tashkent in 1995 and has been a household name in Uzbekistan for its cultural activities.

Special envoy of Uzbekistan President, Ilhom Nematov, on Tuesday said that Tashkent is always ready to assist and provide everything to New Delhi with regard to former Prime Minister Lal Bahadur Shastri.

Special envoy of Uzbekistan President, Ilhom Nematov, on Tuesday said that Tashkent is always ready to assist and provide everything to New Delhi with regard to former Prime Minister Lal Bahadur Shastri. "India is always helpful. It is an important partner for us. Uzbekistan is ready to provide everything for India," Nematov told ANI in response to a question on whether Uzbekistan will provide information to India with regard to the death of former Prime Minister Lal Bahadur Shastri. Shastri died in Tashkent, which was then part of erstwhile Soviet Union, in the early hours of January 11, 1966, after signing the Tashkent Accord with Pakistan President Mohammad Ayub Khan on January 10, 1966. He reportedly died of heart attack, but there have been various theories on how the former Prime Minister passed away. Some even suspect he died of poisoning. With the mystery surrounding Shastri's death, there have been demands for declassifying documents related to his demise. Meanwhile, ahead of the Uzbekistan President Shavkat Mirziyoyev's state visit to India, the Embassy of Uzbekistan in Delhi, in cooperation with National Association of Electronic Mass Media of Uzbekistan, organised a series of cultural events dedicated to showcasing the shared legacy and deep cultural ties of the people of India and Uzbekistan. The Uzbek exhibition features collections from the Rampur Raza Library, the National Museum of India, the Khuda Bakhsh Oriental Public Library and will be displayed at the National Museum of India from September 25 until October 26. The exhibition is accompanied by conference of scholars, a presentation of books to universities and cultural organisations of India and other special events at the Embassy of Uzbekistan in Delhi. A series of similar presentations will be held at Jawaharlal Nehru University, Jamia Millia Islamia and Islamic Cultural Centre of India. The first of these events was held on January 20 at the Lal Bahadur Shastri Memorial, where the Shastri Museum, was gifted a unique collection of books. Illustrated in 10 volumes, the collection of books depicts the vibrant legacy of the Republic of Uzbekistan that is highlighted in art collections from all over the world. Admired by several generations of Uzbeks, Shastri is remembered fondly for the historic declaration of 1966 between India and Pakistan, which he signed in Tashkent, shortly before his death. The Lal Bahadur Shastri Centre for Indian Culture, which works under the Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR), was established in Tashkent in 1995 and has been a household name in Uzbekistan for its cultural activities.

Ready to provide India everything on Shastri: Uzbek diplomat

Uzbekistan&nbsp;President Shavkat Mirziyoyev said today that his country is ready to join the Turkmenistan to India gas pipeline, Reuters reported.

"We have agreed that Uzbekistan will also take part in this project," Mirziyoyev said.

The Turkmenistan–Afghanistan–Pakistan–India Pipeline (TAPI) gas pipeline is being partly funded by the Asian Development Bank, the construction of the Turkmenistan section had started three years ago.

Uzbekistan's entry will radically change the equations in the region. Although reports said it is still unclear if Tashkent would ship gas through the pipeline.

In February, several top leaders from Pakistan, India, Turkmenistan & &nbsp;Afghanistan had gathered at Turkmenistan’s border with Afghanistan to inaugurate a section of the 1,840-km pipeline.

President Mirziyoyev's move comes after India's external affairs minister Sushma Swaraj met foreign minister of Uzbekistan Abdulaziz Kamilov and discussed trade and investment-related issues in Beijing.&nbsp; 
&nbsp; 
Uzbekistan in a bid to diversify its gas market is looking at Pakistan and India as a possible market. The Central Asian country had started to lay the Afghan section of the pipeline which will also be linked to Pakistan.

The project which costs $8 billion will be one of the most ambitious gas pipeline projects in the region. President &nbsp;Mirziyoyev declaration came after he met Turkmenistan President Kurbanguly Berdymukhamedov.

Both Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan hope to rely less on dominant neighbours China and Russia for their gas exports as the region competes for resources in an increasingly complex power equation.

Reuters said Uzbek experts would travel to Turkmenistan to discuss Tashkent's role in the pipeline.

The project which costs $8 billion will be one of the most ambitious gas pipeline projects in the region.

Uzbekistan President Shavkat Mirziyoyev said today that his country is ready to join the Turkmenistan to India gas pipeline, Reuters reported. "We have agreed that Uzbekistan will also take part in this project," Mirziyoyev said. The Turkmenistan–Afghanistan–Pakistan–India Pipeline (TAPI) gas pipeline is being partly funded by the Asian Development Bank, the construction of the Turkmenistan section had started three years ago. Uzbekistan's entry will radically change the equations in the region. Although reports said it is still unclear if Tashkent would ship gas through the pipeline. In February, several top leaders from Pakistan, India, Turkmenistan & Afghanistan had gathered at Turkmenistan’s border with Afghanistan to inaugurate a section of the 1,840-km pipeline. President Mirziyoyev's move comes after India's external affairs minister Sushma Swaraj met foreign minister of Uzbekistan Abdulaziz Kamilov and discussed trade and investment-related issues in Beijing. Uzbekistan in a bid to diversify its gas market is looking at Pakistan and India as a possible market. The Central Asian country had started to lay the Afghan section of the pipeline which will also be linked to Pakistan. The project which costs $8 billion will be one of the most ambitious gas pipeline projects in the region. President Mirziyoyev declaration came after he met Turkmenistan President Kurbanguly Berdymukhamedov. Both Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan hope to rely less on dominant neighbours China and Russia for their gas exports as the region competes for resources in an increasingly complex power equation. Reuters said Uzbek experts would travel to Turkmenistan to discuss Tashkent's role in the pipeline.

Uzbekistan to join Turkmenistan-India gas pipeline project: President Mirziyoyev

Uzbekistan offered on Tuesday to host peace talks between the Afghan government and the Taliban, a move that could make Tashkent a player in settling the decades-long conflict in the neighbouring country.

The former Soviet republic is seeking to raise its international profile as part of President Shavkat Mirziyoyev's campaign to open up the nation of 32 million and attract foreign investment after decades of isolation and economic stagnation.

"We stand ready to create all necessary conditions, at any stage of the peace process, to arrange on the territory of Uzbekistan direct talks between the government of Afghanistan and the Taliban movement," Mirziyoyev told a conference in Tashkent attended by Afghan President Ashraf Ghani.

European Union foreign affairs chief Federica Mogherini and a number of foreign ministers including those of Russia and Turkey, also attended the conference, but there were no Taliban representatives.

Last month, Ghani offered recognition of the Taliban as a legitimate political group as part of a proposed political process. He repeated the offer on Tuesday, saying it would "let ballots replace bullets". 
Meanwhile, Thomas Shannon, U.S. Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs, warned that if the Taliban rejected the offer, "they will leave us no choice but to oppose them".

Mirziyoyev took over the predominantly Muslim Uzbekistan after the death in 2016 of authoritarian President Islam Karimov, who had run the country since the Soviet era.

Tashkent`s ties with the West were strained under Karimov who was often criticised over his government`s human rights abuses.

Mirziyoyev has promised to liberalise the country and has launched a diplomatic campaign to bring in foreign investment and boost trade.

Tashkent`s ties with the West were strained under Karimov who was often criticised over his government`s human rights abuses.

Uzbekistan offered on Tuesday to host peace talks between the Afghan government and the Taliban, a move that could make Tashkent a player in settling the decades-long conflict in the neighbouring country. The former Soviet republic is seeking to raise its international profile as part of President Shavkat Mirziyoyev's campaign to open up the nation of 32 million and attract foreign investment after decades of isolation and economic stagnation. "We stand ready to create all necessary conditions, at any stage of the peace process, to arrange on the territory of Uzbekistan direct talks between the government of Afghanistan and the Taliban movement," Mirziyoyev told a conference in Tashkent attended by Afghan President Ashraf Ghani. European Union foreign affairs chief Federica Mogherini and a number of foreign ministers including those of Russia and Turkey, also attended the conference, but there were no Taliban representatives. Last month, Ghani offered recognition of the Taliban as a legitimate political group as part of a proposed political process. He repeated the offer on Tuesday, saying it would "let ballots replace bullets". Meanwhile, Thomas Shannon, U.S. Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs, warned that if the Taliban rejected the offer, "they will leave us no choice but to oppose them". Mirziyoyev took over the predominantly Muslim Uzbekistan after the death in 2016 of authoritarian President Islam Karimov, who had run the country since the Soviet era. Tashkent`s ties with the West were strained under Karimov who was often criticised over his government`s human rights abuses. Mirziyoyev has promised to liberalise the country and has launched a diplomatic campaign to bring in foreign investment and boost trade.

Uzbekistan offers to host talks between Afghan government, Taliban

Uzbekistan wants to establish a new venue for peace talks between the government of neighbouring Afghanistan and the Taliban, it said on Tuesday, having invited the world&rsquo;s top diplomats to a conference later this month.

As per media reports, the conference will be held on 26 to 27 March in Tashkent with the aim to jumpstart the &ldquo;Afghan-owned, Afghan-led process for national reconciliation&rdquo;, its foreign ministry said in a statement.

It is unclear, however, whether any Taliban representatives will be present at the meeting where Afghan President Ashraf Ghani is set to deliver a keynote speech.

The meeting will be the first such event to be hosted by Uzbekistan President Shavkat Mirziyoyev, who came to power in 2016 and has pledged to open up the resource-rich nation of 32 million to the outside world.

An extravagant number of high-ranking officials are said to attend the conference including the UN Secretary-General Ant&oacute;nio Guterres, UN Special Representative for Afghanistan Tadamiti Yamamoto and EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Federica Magerini will attend the conference.

Other than that, foreign ministers of China, Russia, the United States, Great Britain, Germany, Italy, France, Turkey, India, Iran, Pakistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates are also expected to attend the conference.

The representatives are expected to voice their consolidated position at the regional and global levels on the need for the early start of direct talks between the Afghan government and the Taliban without any preconditions being put forward.&nbsp;

Mirziyoyev&rsquo;s office said last week that US&nbsp;President Donald Trump supported the conference in a message, saying his &ldquo;administration is considering the composition of the relevant delegation of the United States&rdquo;.

The Uzbek foreign ministry said it expected the meeting to adopt the resolution calling for &ldquo;guaranteed integration of the armed opposition into the political life of Afghanistan&rdquo; while condemning &ldquo;all forms and manifestations of terrorism&rdquo;.

&ldquo;Initiating the Tashkent Conference, Uzbekistan by no means intends to confine itself to arranging it as a one-off event, but to continue with vigorous efforts &ndash; both bilaterally and multilaterally &ndash; to promote a peaceful political process in Afghanistan,&rdquo; it said.

Mirziyoyev took over the predominantly Muslim former Soviet republic after the death of President Islam Karimov who had run it for more than a quarter of a century.

Tashkent&rsquo;s ties with the West were strained under Karimov who was often criticised over his government&rsquo;s human rights abuses.

Mirziyoyev has promised to liberalise the resource-rich nation and has embarked on a diplomatic campaign to bring in much-needed foreign investment.

(With inputs from Reuters)

The conference will be held on 26 to 27 March in Tashkent with the aim to jumpstart the 'Afghan-owned, Afghan-led process for national reconciliation', its foreign ministry said in a statement

Uzbekistan wants to establish a new venue for peace talks between the government of neighbouring Afghanistan and the Taliban, it said on Tuesday, having invited the world’s top diplomats to a conference later this month. As per media reports, the conference will be held on 26 to 27 March in Tashkent with the aim to jumpstart the “Afghan-owned, Afghan-led process for national reconciliation”, its foreign ministry said in a statement. It is unclear, however, whether any Taliban representatives will be present at the meeting where Afghan President Ashraf Ghani is set to deliver a keynote speech. The meeting will be the first such event to be hosted by Uzbekistan President Shavkat Mirziyoyev, who came to power in 2016 and has pledged to open up the resource-rich nation of 32 million to the outside world. An extravagant number of high-ranking officials are said to attend the conference including the UN Secretary-General António Guterres, UN Special Representative for Afghanistan Tadamiti Yamamoto and EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Federica Magerini will attend the conference. Other than that, foreign ministers of China, Russia, the United States, Great Britain, Germany, Italy, France, Turkey, India, Iran, Pakistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates are also expected to attend the conference. The representatives are expected to voice their consolidated position at the regional and global levels on the need for the early start of direct talks between the Afghan government and the Taliban without any preconditions being put forward. Mirziyoyev’s office said last week that US President Donald Trump supported the conference in a message, saying his “administration is considering the composition of the relevant delegation of the United States”. The Uzbek foreign ministry said it expected the meeting to adopt the resolution calling for “guaranteed integration of the armed opposition into the political life of Afghanistan” while condemning “all forms and manifestations of terrorism”. “Initiating the Tashkent Conference, Uzbekistan by no means intends to confine itself to arranging it as a one-off event, but to continue with vigorous efforts – both bilaterally and multilaterally – to promote a peaceful political process in Afghanistan,” it said. Mirziyoyev took over the predominantly Muslim former Soviet republic after the death of President Islam Karimov who had run it for more than a quarter of a century. Tashkent’s ties with the West were strained under Karimov who was often criticised over his government’s human rights abuses. Mirziyoyev has promised to liberalise the resource-rich nation and has embarked on a diplomatic campaign to bring in much-needed foreign investment. (With inputs from Reuters)

Uzbekistan seeks bigger role in Afghan-Taliban peace talks

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