"We need to constantly exchange views and discuss very serious issues," Medvedev told Uzbek President Islam Karimov at the start of their meeting Friday.

"I am talking about the global financial and economic crisis that has affected every country on the planet."

"The world is changing very fast, the balance of forces is changing together with accents and guidelines," he told Medvedev.

"In this respect, Russia is a country which has always been present in this region and a country which has decided politics and balance of forces here," Uzbek President Islam Karimov added. "I believe your visit here is very important and very symbolic."