The Prime Minister of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev welcomed the high-ranking guest at the Tashkent airport, UzA reported. Uzbekistan’s Foreign Minister Vladimir Norov also also welcomed the guest, Bernama reported.

Abdullah, accompanied by his spouse Datin Seri Jeanne Abdullah, later proceeded to the Presidential Residence, Durmen, where they will be staying at the Guest House throughout their visit in Tashkent.

Durmen is the official residence of Uzbekistan President Islam Karimov, who is also head of State.

The Malaysian delegation includes four ministers - Datuk Seri Nazri Aziz and Senator Tan Sri Amirsham Abdul Aziz (both from the Prime Minister’s Department), Datuk Shafie Apdal (unity, culture, arts and heritage) and Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin (higher education).

Later, Abdullah and Jeanne will visit Abul Qosim Handicraft Madrassah in Tashkent, before attending a welcoming dinner hosted by Malaysian Ambassador to Uzbekistan Abdul Aziz Harun.

An official welcoming ceremony for the Malaysian prime minister is scheduled to be held at the Durmen.

Later, Abdullah and Islam Karimov will hold a private meeting before leading their respective delegations for a meeting at the Durmen. The sides will consider issues of further strengthening of bilateral cooperation, as well as important problems of regional and international character.

This will be followed by the signing of memorandum of understanding on cooperation in science and technology, as well as higher education between the two countries.

Abdullah will also attend a briefing on Petronas operations in this country at a hotel in Tashkent, before joining the Malaysian community in Uzbekistan for tea at the same hotel.

Abdullah and Jeanne are scheduled to visit the Monument of Independence and Humanism for a wreath-laying ceremony. They will also visit the Hazrati Imam Complex where the oldest Al-Quran is kept.

Abdullah will conclude his second day visit by attending an official dinner hosted by the Uzbekistan president at Durmen.

On Tuesday, Abdullah and his entourage will leave Tashkent for Samarkand, situated 350km south of the Uzbek capital city.

Samarkand is considered one of the world’s oldest inhabited cities whose existence exceeds 2,750 years. It is also located in the Great Silk Route, a trade route between Europe and China.

Abdullah and Jeanne will visit the famous Islamic hadith scholar Imam Bukhari’s Mausoleum, Bibihanum Mosque, Samarkand Market, Registan Square and Guri Amir.

Bibihanum Mosque was built in 1399 by then-Samarkand ruler and warrior Amir Timur and named the mosque after his wife, while Registan Square consists of three madrasah build in 15th and 17th century and served as madrasah, mosques and now monument.

Guri Amir is a mausoleum built in 1404 by Amir Timur for his grandson, Mohamed Sultan, who was supposed to have become the heir of the throne after him but died. Amir Timur was also burried there later.

Abdullah is scheduled to depart from Samarkand on the final day to proceed to Ashgabat where he will start his two-day official visit to Turkmenistan.