The Minister of Foreign Affairs of Uzbekistan, Bakhtiyor Saidov, met with Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko in Minsk on April 11. Lukashenko expressed gratitude for the hospitality extended during his recent official visit to Tashkent and emphasized the ambitious goal of reaching a $1 billion trade turnover between the two countries.
Lukashenko also thanked Uzbekistan for its support in Belarus's path towards membership in the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO). He urged the establishment of joint ventures, specifically mentioning cooperation in the automotive industry. Lukashenko reassured Uzbekistan of Belarus's enduring friendship and willingness to collaborate on agreed-upon initiatives.
Saidov conveyed greetings from Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev, highlighting the historic nature of Lukashenko's visit to Uzbekistan. Uzbekistan expressed readiness to elevate relations with Belarus across various sectors. In early February, the presidents of both countries committed to increasing bilateral trade, utilizing trade routes to South Asia, and enhancing cooperation in agriculture, pharmaceuticals, food, and light industry.
Mirziyoyev emphasized the importance of establishing a joint venture with Belarus's BelAZ for localized production of quarry dump trucks for constructing a copper ore enrichment plant. The meeting between Saidov and Lukashenko signifies a significant step towards strengthening economic cooperation and fostering mutual development between Uzbekistan and Belarus.
