Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Kuwait Sheikh Mohammed Al-Salem Al-Sabah and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Bahrain Sheikh Haled Bin Ahmed Bin Mohammed Al-Khalifa paid an official visit to Uzbekistan.

In his Oqsaroy Residence President Islam Karimov received both of the Arab ministers. On June 6 he met Minister of Foreign Affairs of Kuwait Sheikh Mohammed Al-Salem Al-Sabah and on June 7 Minister of Foreign Affairs of Bahrain Sheikh Haled Bin Ahmed Bin Mohammed Al-Khalifa.

During talks there was paid much attention to the status quo and perspectives of bilateral Uzbek-Kuwait and Uzbek-Bahrain cooperation in all spheres. The sides expressed their interest in advancing relations between their states, expanding their political dialog and strengthening commercial and economic relations.

According to Uzbekistan Today news agency, in the meeting with Minister of Foreign Affairs of Bahrain Sheikh Haled Bin Ahmed Bin Mohammed Al-Khalifa President Islam Karimov pointed out that "... for Uzbekistan relations with Arab states are of priority and in this regard cooperation with Bahrain is significant for us".

In spite of stereotypes, the Arab world must not be considered as a single zone because the Arab countries are characterized with different paces of economic development and level of income per capita. The basic economic differences are connected with various levels of specialization, foreign economic policy, market openness and development of financial system as well as integration into the world economy.

According to the International Monetary Fund (IMF), in last five years average economic growth of the Arab region has reached 4,5%. Bahrain and Kuwait aside with United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia are included in the group of countries with high income level.

Today Bahrain is one of the largest financial centers in the Middle East. Its banking sector consists of around 150 establishments. It is approximately as more as in all Arab states of Persian Gulf in whole.

Kuwait like Oman and United Arab Emirates is a big creditor country. President Islam Karimov stressed that "Kuwait is intensively developing country with great potential not only in the region as well as over the world".

The cooperation between Uzbekistan and Arab-Muslim world cannot be limited with only commercial and economic ties because it is mostly based on common historical and spiritual values and predominance of Islam in this vast region. But commonality of interests and coincidence of positions of Uzbekistan and Arab states in contemporary international issues, particularly maintenance of peace and security in the region will help to activate and strengthen the political dialog between the countries.

In this regard, ministers of foreign affairs of Kuwait and Bahrain met with the head of the foreign policy establishmen of Uzbekistan V. Norov and discussed the situation in the political sphere. As a result of meetings, the sides signed the Protocol on political consultations between the Ministry of Foreign Affaires of Uzbekistan and the Ministry of Foreign Affaires of Kuwait, and the Protocol on political consultations between the Ministry of Foreign Affaires of Uzbekistan and the Ministry of Foreign Affaires of Bahrain.