To reach a billion dollars in trade, to develop industrial cooperation, to work together in the markets of other countries. A big negotiation marathon took place today in Tashkent. Alexander Lukashenko's visit to Uzbekistan has already been called historic. In recent years, Minsk and Tashkent have really managed to do a lot in economic terms. Looking ahead, today they signed a roadmap of cooperation for the next 2 years. Alexander Lukashenko believes that Uzbekistan has become a reference point for Belarus in Central Asia. It was evident from the talks at the highest level that the leaders do not intend to slow down the pace of cooperation - the governments are determined to be active and solve common problems. Belarusian technologies, as well as goods, will come in handy in Uzbekistan, which is now striving to develop various spheres of economy.
In 2023, Belarus and Uzbekistan celebrated 30 years of diplomatic relations.
Uzbekistan has become a reference point for Belarus in Central Asia
Alexander Lukashenko: "As your friends, close brothers, we are always close to each other, because the Uzbek and Belarusian peoples are very similar people, hardworking, tolerant. They are real hard workers. This is the basis of our relations. "
"We have been waiting for this meeting for a long time. Your visit to Uzbekistan and the successful events held the day before once again confirm our mutual desire and determination to strengthen our cooperation," Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev said. - In recent years, our joint efforts have managed to radically change the nature and content of Uzbek-Belarusian relations, to bring them to a qualitatively new level. Never in the history of our relations has there been such mutual understanding, such real results".
"You know how to do so much that we need to learn from you. We are ready to fully transfer those technologies that we have left from the Soviet Union (we have added something, you know it) to the territory of Uzbekistan," Alexander Lukashenko emphasized. The head of state cited the pharmaceutical industry as an example. Uzbekistan is interested in supplying medicines, so the President proposes joint production.
Uzbekistan is ready to provide guarantees for the purchase of Belarusian pharmaceutical products for the required number of years. The quality is satisfactory.
Alexander Lukashenko, President of the Republic of Belarus:
"It is a difficult period, we are ready to lend a shoulder in healthcare. We have to exclude child mortality and especially female mortality. It is not a good thing that a woman dies. And who will raise the children? That is why we are ready to tear ourselves away, to come, to launch this clinic properly, to help you staff it, to teach obstetrics to your people. But while we teach you, we'll help you. We always owe it to women to do something for this sacred cause, a staffed home for women and women in labor."
Belarus can contribute to the modernization of Uzbekistan's economy. Especially since we have not lost the best experience and the Soviet base, but on the contrary, we have built up competencies on that basis. This has already become a boon for our Russian partners in microelectronics. For our Uzbek partners it can be a boon in agro-industrial complex and industry as well.
The President called a strong economy, which is not afraid of any shocks, the foundation of any state. "That is why we have a very impressive economic block on our agenda," the head of state said. - BELAZ, Belshina, etc. - I don't see any problems here. So, where we have underperformed, we need to be more active. "
According to Alexander Lukashenko, the current figures of trade turnover - almost $600 million - do not correspond to the existing potential, although they are a record. "In the next year and a half, we need to reach $1 mn".
Belarus and Uzbekistan signed a roadmap of cooperation for 2024-2025 years
Following the talks, Minsk and Tashkent came to the signing of a decent package of documents, among which there are no memorandums, but only agreements that work in energy, agro-industrial complex, science and education, sports. In the presence of the leaders, responsible deputy prime ministers signed a roadmap of cooperation between the countries for the next two years.
Alexander Lukashenko noted that Belarus in cooperation with other countries offers a broad agenda and especially issues related to technology exchange. At the same time, opponents and detractors sometimes question the fact that Belarus, being a small country, offers some technologies. In this regard, the head of state reminded that high-tech industries have been developed in Belarus since the times of the Soviet Union - this is how the division of labor and production specialization in that common state developed.
"We have not squandered it for the period of the 1990s and now. The President (of Uzbekistan - editor's note) knows it well, he knows Belarus very well," the Belarusian leader emphasized.
Alexander Lukashenko cited the example of the powerful cotton production in Belarus, the raw material for which was cotton from Uzbekistan: "From here we received, processed and exported, i.e. we processed a huge amount of export products. And this required high technology."
"I am saying this to the fact that we are brotherly republics. The President has correctly said that Belarusians and Uzbeks are very similar peoples - tolerant, flexible, they do not look into other people's gardens, they do not take anything away from anyone, they are not going to fight. We are hard-working peoples and are ready to seek and find our own happiness.
In their joint statement, Alexander Lukashenko and Shavkat Mirziyoyev confirm that Belarus and Uzbekistan will continue to make efforts to develop partnership. If Minsk and Tashkent are making plans, they are quite mundane - to work in a way that would be beneficial to our countries. Although they also keep neighboring markets in their sights.
Lukashenko and Mirziyoyev visited one of the most technologically advanced production facilities in Central Asia
After several rounds of talks, the presidents went to the technopark. This is a giant industrial site in Tashkent. Almost 2 dozen productions are gathered under its roof. A 5,000-strong team is at work. They produce many things - from household appliances to boilers and gas distribution stations. The main idea is import substitution - to make more things ourselves.
