Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) -- President of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko arrived on an official visit to Uzbekistan.

The Belarusian leader was met at the ramp by Prime Minister of Uzbekistan Abdulla Aripov, Foreign Minister Bakhtiyor Saidov, acting khokim (mayor) of Tashkent Shavkat Umurzakov and Foreign Minister of Belarus Sergei Aleynik, who arrived the day before, BELTA reported.

In Tashkent, Alexander Lukashenko will hold negotiations with the President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev. The heads of state will focus on issues of deepening interstate relations, intensifying trade, economic, cultural and humanitarian interaction.

“The parties will pay special attention to the development of cooperation ties in various industries, cooperation in agriculture, science, education and tourism,” the press service of the President of Belarus reported.

Alexander Lukashenko and Shavkat Mirziyoyev will also discuss the regional and global agenda, interaction between the two countries in integration structures and in the international arena.

On the eve of the visit of the Belarusian President, the second Forum of Regions of Belarus and Uzbekistan was held in Tashkent. The parties concluded over 20 contracts and agreements for a total amount of $80 million.

The President of Belarus visited Uzbekistan on official visits in 1994 and 2018, and with workers in 2016 (twice) and 2022. In 2014 and 2019, official visits of the President of Uzbekistan to Belarus took place.

During 2018–2022, trade turnover between the countries increased 3.2 times. In 2023, the volume of mutual trade increased by another 12% and exceeded US$565 million.

Uzbekistan and Belarus have prepared a road map for the development of cooperation for 2024–2025. As Deputy Prime Minister Leonid Zayats said, it was based on almost a hundred export and investment projects worth more than US$1 billion.