Mr. Kuroda arrived in Uzbekistan to partake in the international conference “Fostering a Well Educated and Intellectually Advanced Generation – Critical Prerequisite of Sustainable Development and Modernization of Country” in progress in Tashkent, UzA reported.

Greeting the guest, Uzbek President noted that the ADB is by right one of the most prominent and influential international financial institutions with which Uzbekistan is tied with long-standing and reliable bonds of partnership.

Testifying to this fact is the bilateral constructive cooperation that has led to Asian Development Bank approving thirty-five joint projects totaling more than US$8.6 billion with ADB funding share exceeding US$3.8 billion.

A special place in Uzbekistan-ADB partnership is attached to interaction in reforming the education system in Uzbekistan whereby eight joint schemes totaling some US$300 million have been executed.

The current state of bilateral relations is distinct with dynamism and a wide spectrum of cooperation areas. The annual growth of ADB operations in Uzbekistan has reached 1 billion dollars within the last few years. In this regard, it is highly symbolic that US$508 million loan agreements for four projects worth US$950 million dollars overall have been signed during ADB President’s current visit.

President Karimov has awarded the ADB President Kuroda a high state reward – the order “Buyuk Khizmatlari Uchun” (For Great Services) – for the latter’s remarkable contribution to bolstering cooperation between the Republic of Uzbekistan and the Asian Development Bank and other international financial institutions, the energetic assistance in executing the socio-economic reform program, the expansion and reinforcement of regional partnership.

ADB President expressed sincere gratitude to the leader of our country for the warm welcome and high attention, and underscored the Asian Development Bank’s willingness in boosting its cooperation with Uzbekistan.

At the meeting, the sides exchanged views on the current state of bilateral cooperation, defined priority dimensions of further expanding partnership relations, and discussed enhancing regional cooperation in Central Asia.