November 1, 2007

Politics:
President of Uzbekistan receives head of Asian Development Bank
Meeting of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization Council of heads of governments in the city of Tashkent

POLITICS

President of Uzbekistan receives head of Asian Development Bank

President of Uzbekistan Islam Karimov received president of the Asian Development Bank Haruhiko Kuroda on 31 October.

At the meeting in Oqsaroy residence, the sides discussed relations between Uzbekistan and the ADB, as well as implementation and possible development of new joint projects.

The ADB is one of Uzbekistan’s reliable and active partners. The bank occupies the first place among international financial structures in financing projects in Uzbekistan.

Since 1995, when Uzbekistan joined the financial institution, the ADB has issued credits worth USD 875.6 million to the country.

The credits were used for implementation of 21 projects of strategic importance in transport infrastructure, energy, agriculture, small business, education and other fields.

Besides, the bank has provided 62 technical assistance grants for the total sum of USD 32 million.

16 credit projects worth USD 510.7 million are currently being planned in the framework of the new three-year Financial Cooperation Program. The projects are aimed at improvement of drinking water supply and meliorate condition of lands, equipment of schools and introduction of ICT in education, modernization of transport infrastructure and supporting small business.

The ADB attaches a great importance to continuing and development of cooperation with Uzbekistan, Haruhiko Kuroda said at the meeting with Islam Karimov.


Meeting of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization Council of heads of governments in the city of Tashkent

On November 2, 2007 the meeting of the Council of heads of governments of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization member-states will take place in the city of Tashkent.

The Prime Minister of the Republic of Kazakhstan K.Masimov, Premier of the State council of the People’s Republic of China W.Jiabao, acting Prime Minister of the Kyrgyz Republic A.Atambaev, Head of the Government of the Russian Federation V.Zubkov, Prime Minister of the Republic of Tajikistan A.Akilov, Prime Minister of the Republic of Uzbekistan Sh.Mirziyoev, the SCO Secretary General B.Nurgaliev and Director of the SCO Regional Antiterrorist Structure Executive Committee M.Subanov will participate at the meeting.

The representatives of the SCO observer-countries – the State minister of foreign affairs of the Republic of India E.Ahamed, the First vice-president of the Islamic Republic of Iran P.Dawudi, the Deputy Prime Minister of Mongolia M.Enhsayhan and Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan H.Kasuri, and as a guest – the First vice-president of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan A.Masood will also take part at the meeting.

During the meeting the reports will be made on implementation of decisions by the Council of heads of states and heads of governments of the SCO member-states on the development and measures to further intensify the trade, economic, and humanitarian cooperation in the Organization’s framework, as well as the activity of the SCO Business council and Banking association during the period, which followed the last meeting of the SCO Council of heads of governments in September 2006 in the city of Dushanbe.

Within the framework of the Council of heads of governments the Joint Communique and Agreement between the governments of the SCO member-states on cooperation and mutual assistance in customs, and a number of other documents will be signed.

Press Service of the
Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the
Republic of Uzbekistan