Prime Minister of the Russian Federation Mikhail Mishustin and Prime Minister of the Republic of Uzbekistan Abdulla Aripov chaired a meeting of the Joint Commission at the level of heads of Government of Russia and Uzbekistan.
Photo: Mikhail Mishustin and Prime Minister of the Republic of Uzbekistan Abdulla Aripov
Photo: Mikhail Mishustin and Prime Minister of the Republic of Uzbekistan Abdulla Aripov
The 6th meeting of the Joint Commission at the level of heads of Government of Russia and Uzbekistan
The 6th meeting of the Joint Commission at the level of heads of Government of Russia and Uzbekistan
The 6th meeting of the Joint Commission at the level of heads of Government of Russia and Uzbekistan
Joint Communiqué following the 6th meeting of the Joint Commission at the Level of the Heads of Government of the Russian Federation and the Republic of Uzbekistan
Joint Communiqué following the 6th meeting of the Joint Commission at the Level of the Heads of Government of the Russian Federation and the Republic of Uzbekistan
Photo: Mikhail Mishustin and Prime Minister of the Republic of Uzbekistan Abdulla Aripov
Excerpts from the transcript:
Mikhail Mishustin: Mr Aripov, friends, colleagues,
I am delighted to welcome you and all our Uzbek partners and friends to Moscow during the 6th meeting of the Joint Commission at the level of heads of Government of Russia and Uzbekistan.
Today, we will discuss in detail how objectives, set by our Presidents Vladimir Putin and Shavkat Mirziyoyev, are being accomplished. We will also chart measures for further strengthening Russian-Uzbekistani relations of comprehensive strategic partnership and alliance.
Our economic and investment cooperation continues to develop actively even in conditions of geopolitical turbulence.
Russia ranks among Uzbekistan’s leading foreign trade partners. Last year, mutual trade increased by 12.5 percent and reached nearly one trillion roubles. Acting in line with agreements between our heads of state, we need to multiply this indicator by 2030 significantly. I believe that we have the required foundation for implementing these plans.
Russia and Uzbekistan maintain permanent dialogue at all levels and in various formats. Mr Aripov, we met two weeks ago at a session of the Eurasian Intergovernmental Council in Kazakhstan. Our specialised ministries and agencies communicate directly. The Intergovernmental Commission for Economic Cooperation is conducting a large amount of work.
The regions of Russia and Uzbekistan continue to strengthen their direct cooperation.
All this confirms our mutual commitment to jointly moving forwards in the most diverse spheres. We are also searching for new economic growth points together.
We regard energy as a key sphere for boosting our cooperation. We have launched construction of an integrated Russian-designed nuclear power plant in the Jizak Region. Concrete works started there in March. The implementation of this large-scale initiative will, doubtless, expedite the socio-economic development of Uzbekistan and will make it possible to provide the people and businesses with nuclear power for decades to come.
Cooperation in the fuel sector is also developing actively. Agreements have been reached on continued deliveries of Russian oil and natural gas and on expanding their volumes.
Russian specialists are involved in drilling new
wells, modernising the processing system, and the gas transportation
infrastructure in Uzbekistan.
Russian investors are interested in a greater interaction with their Uzbekistani partners. Nearly 150 projects worth more than 4 trillion roubles are being implemented in the Republic, including those in energy, light industry, chemical industry, mining, iron-and-steel, pharmaceuticals, telecommunications, logistics, trade, and infrastructure. A number of projects are in the digital area.
Technical and financial support from Russian companies and banks helped to launch a third copper enrichment factory at the Almalyk Mining and Processing Plant. The construction of a fourth one is under way.
The two sides are active in creating an Uzbekistan-based production cluster to manufacture railway equipment, including passenger carriages and electric and diesel locomotives. Russia also supplies cars for the Tashkent metro.
Joint technological clusters constitute yet another instance of active cooperation. The Republic has two industrial parks with Russian participation – Chirchik and Jizak – that will make it possible to create nearly 3,000 jobs. The network of these operations should expand for our countries’ industrial companies to have as many opportunities as possible for implementing joint projects and, accordingly, manufacturing promising products.
Colleagues,
All of these are examples of mutually beneficial cooperation between Russia and Uzbekistan, examples sustained by our firm humanitarian ties.
We regularly hold forums and festivals that help our people to gain more knowledge about each other’s traditions and history. There are also Days of Russian and Uzbekistani Culture.
Young people in Uzbekistan are able to get an education based on Russian standards. The Republic has the most widespread network of branches of leading Russian universities, including Moscow State University, MGIMO University, MEPhI, and others.
Friends,
As you can see, our cooperation is highly multi-faceted and embraces a broad range of areas. As President of Russia Vladimir Putin stressed, the further buildup of ties fully meets the interests of the friendly peoples of Russia and Uzbekistan.
And, of course, we are in favour of strengthening our interaction in the integration formats. I am referring to the Commonwealth of Independent States, the Eurasian Economic Union, where Uzbekistan has an observer status, the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation, and many other multilateral organisations. Joint work benefits our economies and boosts the practical payback for business people and citizens of Russia and Uzbekistan.
I would like once again to thank you, colleagues, for the joint work, and it is my pleasure to give the floor to Prime Minister of the Republic of Uzbekistan Mr Abdulla Aripov.
The floor is yours, Mr Aripov.
Abdulla Aripov: Thank you very much. Mr Mishustin, colleagues.
First of all, I would like to extend my sincere appreciation to the Russian side and to you personally, Mr Mishustin, for the consistently warm hospitality and the excellent organisation of this latest meeting of the Joint Commission.
Please allow me to convey the cordial greetings and best wishes of the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan, Shavkat Mirziyoyev, to the President of the Russian Federation, Vladimir Putin, as well as to you personally.
Today, Russian-Uzbek relations, grounded in a comprehensive strategic partnership and alliance, have reached a qualitatively new level. Interstate engagement has intensified in recent years, and dynamic, multifaceted, and productive cooperation is developing across all areas. This progress has undoubtedly been driven by the strategic course set by our heads of state.
The Joint Commission, convening today for its sixth meeting, has been entrusted with concrete tasks aimed at the practical implementation of the agreements reached at the highest level. We are witnessing a intensive contacts at the government level, with ministries and agencies of both countries working in close coordination. As you rightly noted, Mr Mishustin, strong partnerships have also been established between our regions: all fourteen regions of Uzbekistan maintain active cooperation with more than 50 regions of the Russian Federation.
Last year, the second meeting of the Council of Regional Heads took place in the Moscow Region, accompanied by more than 100 reciprocal visits by regional leaders and delegations.
Engagement remains regular, with meetings held on a regular basis and the co-chairs of the intergovernmental commissions maintaining continuous contact. The Russian Federation has been and remains our key foreign economic partner, ranking second in Uzbekistan’s overall trade turnover.
Over the past five years, bilateral trade has doubled and, as already noted, exceeded $13 billion by the end of 2025. According to our data, this positive momentum has continued into the current year: in the first two months alone, trade volumes grew by a further 30 percent.
In order to achieve the targets, set by the Presidents of Uzbekistan and the Russian Federation to increase mutual trade to $30 billion by 2030, we are substantially expanding the range of bilateral supplies, with a particular focus on increasing the share of high value-added products.
More than 3,200 enterprises with Russian capital are currently successfully operating in Uzbekistan. The total project portfolio amounts to nearly $44 billion, and by 2025, approximately $5 billion in Russian investment is expected to be absorbed. Joint projects are being actively implemented across a wide range of sectors, including mining and metallurgy, energy, chemicals, agriculture, textiles, electrical engineering, as well as in digitisation and artificial intelligence.
A vivid example of our partnership is the launch of the third copper processing plant at the Almalyk Mining and Metallurgical Combine, as well as the commencement of construction on a fourth facility. At the same time, we are undertaking the modernisation of the Tashkent Metro rolling stock.
In cooperation with our Russian partners, we are also developing modern industrial parks in the Tashkent, Jizzakh, Bukhara, and Navoi regions.
Our priority is to sustain the current momentum and ensure continued growth in mutual trade and investment, with a particular focus on launching major infrastructure and industrial projects, as well as deepening technological cooperation. We count on the traditionally active participation of representatives of the Russian Federation in the 6th Innoprom exhibition, to be held in the capital of Uzbekistan. I would also like to take this opportunity to invite members of the Government of the Russian Federation, you personally, Mr Mishustin, as well as leading Russian companies, to attend the 5th Tashkent International Investment Forum this June.
We are consistently expanding cooperation in the energy sector. A new chapter in our partnership has been opened with the project of the first nuclear power plant in our country. Notably, Uzbekistan will become the first country in the world to host both small and large-size nuclear power plants at a single site.
Another important area is transport and logistics cooperation. It is encouraging to note that the volume of freight traffic between our countries, across all modes of transport, has increased significantly. The number of scheduled air services has also grown substantially, with frequencies now reaching 367 flights per week. This is an unmatched level for our country.
We believe that continued efforts to introduce digital technologies in transport and logistics, along with the development of new international transport corridors, will enable our countries to access promising new export markets.
Cultural and humanitarian ties also play a significant role in bilateral relations. We are active in developing exchanges in culture, tourism, science, youth policy and sports. Stable cooperation has been established in secondary and higher education, as well as between medical institutions.
Fifteen branches of Russian universities are successfully operating in our country. The tourism sector also holds considerable potential. Last year, almost a million Russians visited Uzbekistan. This is a record figure. In May last year, Days of Russian Culture in Uzbekistan and Days of Russian Cinema were held in Tashkent and Samarkand with great success. This autumn, we plan to hold Days of Uzbek Culture in Russia. Such events undoubtedly open up new horizons for cooperation and serve as a symbol of the deep mutual understanding and respect between our peoples.
Mr Mishustin,
We remain firmly committed to further developing close, mutually beneficial and productive cooperation with the Russian Federation. I am confident that the heads of our ministries and agencies present today will provide detailed reports on ongoing work and future prospects for cooperation.
