MoS Lekhi, Uzbek FM discuss need to maintain close, regular touch on Afghanistan

Tashkent/New Delhi, Sep 26 (UNI) Minister of State for External Affairs Meenakshi Lekhi, who was on a four-day visit to Uzbekistan, held talks with the Uzbek Foreign Minister Abdulaziz Kamilov, during which both sides dwelt upon the importance of maintaining close and regular consultations on the evolving situation in Afghanistan and the need to ensure that the territory of Afghanistan is not allowed to be used for any terror activities.

The two also agreed on concluding negotiations at the earliest for the proposed Bilateral Investment Agreement, an official statement said on Sunday.

Lekhi emphasised on the expeditious implementation of development projects in Uzbekistan under the USD 1 billion Line of Credit. She also conveyed India’s full support to the current Uzbek Presidency of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation.

She also met with the Uzbek Culture Minister Ozodbek Nazarbekov, during which they had a productive discussion on further intensifying cooperation in different spheres of culture given the deep cultural and civilisational connect between India and Uzbekistan. These included cooperation in the field of archives, films, preservation of Buddhist sites, creation of ‘India Study Rooms’ in different Universities of Uzbekistan, translation of literary works etc .

The Cultural Exchange Programme for the period 2021-25 was signed during the visit. A 50-member strong Indian delegation comprising film personalities of India will be participating in the Tashkent Film Festival next week, the statement said.

Lekhi had a number of speaking engagements during her visit. These included a lecture on ‘India’s democratic traditions’ at the Tashkent State University of Law and an address on ‘India-Uzbekistan relations- Strengthening Strategic Partnership’ at the Bukhara State University as part of ‘Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav’. She met distinguished Indologists from the Tashkent State Institute of Oriental Studies and other institutions and discussed ways to further promote India studies and philosophy in Uzbekistan.

She also had interactions with members of the Indian community in Tashkent and Indian students at Samarkand State Medical Institute. She highlighted the positive contribution of the Indian diaspora abroad in strengthening of India’s relations with other countries including Uzbekistan. The Indian community was also encouraged to participate actively in the celebrations of Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav.

The September 23-26 visit provided further momentum to our strategic partnership with Uzbekistan by maintaining regular political exchanges and further consolidating our cultural ties, the statement said. This is her first official visit to any Central Asian country after assuming charge.

In December last year, India and Uzbekistan had inked nine agreements for cooperation in several areas and agreed to step up efforts for an early conclusion of the Bilateral Investment treaty.

The agreements were signed at a virtual summit between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev on December 11.

The agreements signed were aimed at expanding cooperation in a range of areas including new and renewable energy, digital technologies, cyber security, community development projects, and in sharing of information on movement of goods.

PM Modi had paid a bilateral visit to Uzbekistan in 2015; and visited Tashkent for the SCO Council of Heads of States meeting in 2016, when India signed the Memorandum of Obligations for joining the SCO.