During his visit to Tashkent, British Foreign Secretary David Cameron expressed the UK's interest in building partnership relations with Uzbekistan and Central Asia without asking them to choose sides. Cameron highlighted the importance of Central Asia in the global arena and emphasized that countries in the region should have the freedom to collaborate with the UK in various areas such as education, climate change, business, and trade.
Cameron acknowledged the similar challenges faced by the UK and Central Asia, focusing on creating job opportunities, achieving prosperity, and ensuring people in both regions have access to employment and the right to vote. The Foreign Secretary's visit to Uzbekistan was part of his official tour to all five Central Asian countries and Mongolia, where he also met with the presidents of Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan.
In Tashkent, the Foreign Ministers of Uzbekistan and the UK signed a Declaration of Comprehensive Cooperation and a Memorandum of Understanding in the fields of regional and international relations and infrastructure. The discussions during the meeting primarily revolved around enhancing economic ties, as stated by Uzbekistan's Foreign Minister, Bakhtiyor Saidov.
Prior to his visit, David Cameron penned a column for "Gazeta.uz," outlining the priority areas for cooperation between the countries, including economic development, education, and strengthening the independence of the region. The UK's commitment to fostering partnerships with Uzbekistan and Central Asia signifies a step towards mutual growth and collaboration in various sectors for the benefit of both regions.
