At the talks with UAE President Sheikh Halifa Bin Zayed Al Nahayan, the two leaders discussed expansion of cooperation between Uzbekistan and the UAE.

Islam Karimov noted that the relations between the nations date back centuries. Uzbekistan considers the UAE its reliable partner in the Gulf, the head of the state said.

UAE President said his country highly valued the relations with Uzbekistan and expressed confidence that the visit would help raise bilateral ties to a new level.

The presidents touched upon economic and investment cooperation, as well as humanitarian ties.

In 2007, commodity turnover between the two countries made up US$93.1 million. Uzbekistan exports to UAE ferrous metals, silk, textiles and services (cargo and passenger transportation by air). Imports from UAE consist of rubber, clothes, home appliances, construction materials, furniture and vehicles.

Almost 70 joint ventures have been set up in Uzbekistan with participation of UAE investors, UzA reported.

The sides agreed the named figures were not satisfactory, especially since both countries had the potential for increasing the cooperation volumes.

At the end of the talks, the agreement was reached on creation of the intergovernmental cooperation commission. It would ensure implementation of the agreements on development of economic, investment and technical cooperation, and look for new fields of partnership.

A number of documents were signed during the visit of the President of Uzbekistan to UAE, including intergovernmental agreements on cooperation in fighting organized crime, terrorism and other dangerous crimes, on trade-economic and technical cooperation, on cooperation in investments and fiscal sphere, on cooperation in tourism, memorandums of understanding in environmental protection and in the securities market.

Commerce and industry chambers of Uzbekistan and UAE signed a cooperation agreement, while the Institute of Oriental Studies of Uzbekistan and the Juma Al Majid Heritage and Culture Center of the UAE signed a cultural cooperation agreement.

President Islam Karimov also met Abu Dhabi Crown Prince Sheikh Mohammad Bin Zayed Al Nahayan, and they discussed cooperation between Uzbekistan and the Abu Dhabi Emirate.

At the business forum of Uzbekistan and the UAE, expansion of economic relations and investment cooperation was discussed. The Uzbek side made a presentation of the country’s economy.