Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) -- The first meeting of the Caucus on Uzbekistan in the US Congress was held at the Embassy of Uzbekistan in Washington, which resumed its activity after the parliamentary elections in the United States in November 2018.

The event was attended by members of the House of Representatives and staff of the Congress, representatives of the National Security Council, the State Department, the US Department of Commerce and Labor, the Pentagon, the Private Foreign Investment Corporation (OPIC), leading American think tanks, member companies of the US-Uzbekistan Chamber of Commerce, non-governmental organizations, international institutions, and the media.

In his speech, Co-Chair of the US Republican Party, Caucus, Congressman Trent Kelly, said that it was a great honor for him to represent in the Congress a group of American lawmakers expressing interest in deepening Uzbek-US relations. The congressman believes that the reform course pursued in Uzbekistan is aimed at achieving progress in the interests of the people and the future of the country.

The Co-Chair of the Democratic Majority of the House of Representatives Caucus Vicente Gonzalez stressed that Uzbekistan is of strategic importance to the United States. In his opinion, the strengthening of friendship and partnership with Tashkent is in the interests of Washington.

At the same time, as Gonsalez, being the representative in the Congress from the State of Texas, noted, the establishment of close cooperation of his state with Uzbekistan in the field of investments is of paramount importance for him. The politician considers the energy sphere a priority for successful interaction. He expressed readiness to assist in establishing Uzbek-American partnerships in this area.

In continuation of the event, Ambassador of Uzbekistan to the United States Javlon Vahabov read out a message to the participants of the first meeting of the Caucus on Uzbekistan head of the Inter-Parliamentary Group of the Oliy Majlis of the Republic of Uzbekistan on cooperation with the Congress of Senator Sadyk Safoev, expressing readiness for interaction with the newly created Capitol Hill in strengthening trade and investment cooperation with the United States, both at the federal and regional levels.

Following the event, congressmen T.Kelly and V.Gonsalez signed a protocol of the first meeting of the Caucus on Uzbekistan, in which its members reaffirmed the importance of strategic cooperation with our country, and also declared their commitment to strengthening and expanding bilateral relations.

In the protocol, Caucus participants advocate the further intensification of inter-parliamentary dialogue, cooperation in the field of trade and investment, support the development of direct contacts between business communities, as well as cultural, humanitarian and educational ties. By document, US representatives call on other members of Congress to join Caucus.