Uzbekistan President Shavkat Mirziyoyev says the strategic partnership with India is "one of the most important priorities" of Uzbekistan
India and Uzbekistan decided to scale up bilateral cooperation by signing 17 pacts, in key areas of defence, counter-terrorism, agriculture, science and technology, etc. Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Uzbekistan President Shavkat Mirziyoyev held comprehensive talks on Monday, also agreeing to work towards to help bring peace in Afghanistan.
"We have had very comprehensive discussions. We have taken a long-term view to deepen the strategic partnership between the two countries," Modi said. Mirziyoyev said the strategic partnership with India is "one of the most important priorities" of Uzbekistan.
Uzbekistan was pivotal in helping India join the Ashgabat Agreement to establish an international multi-modal transport and transit corridor between Central Asia and the Persian Gulf. Modi thanked Uzbekistan for its support, and expressed hope that it would also join the International North-South Transport Corridor (INSTC). "We have agreed to closely cooperate in the sphere of developing new transport connectivity corridor," Mirziyoyev said.
A joint statement issued at the end of talks said both sides will work closely to expand and strengthen defence ties as well as defence industry cooperation. They also agreed to hold joint military training exercises in counter-terrorism and cooperation in military education and medicine. They agreed to strengthen cooperation between law enforcement agencies and special services of the two countries, including under the framework of the Uzbekistan-India Joint Working Group on Counter-Terrorism. Uzbekistan will also set up a defence wing at its embassy here, the statement said.
Mirziyoyev said the "common opinion" of the two countries was that "there is no military solution to the Afghanistan problem". "The only way to peace is a political dialogue between the government of Afghanistan and the Opposition. They reiterated support for efforts of the government and the people for a genuine Afghan-owned, Afghan-led and Afghan-controlled peace and reconciliation process that would allow for a peaceful, secure, united, inclusive and prosperous nation," the joint statement read.
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 "Prime Minister Narendra Modi hugs Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev")
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