The Shanghai Cooperation Organization Summit in Tashkent has been in the spotlight of regional political, economical and security processes. Outcome of the summit has provided further development of mutually beneficial collaboration within the SCO member states in several directions.
On June 8 in Tashkent was held the First session of the Uzbek-Korean business council, participants of which discussed issues of further developing bilateral trade-economic and investment cooperation.
Representatives of ministries and departments, companies and concerns, responsible for such sectors as foreign economic relations, investments, fuel-energy industry, machinery, geology and mineral resources, aviation, construction and chemistry participated at the forum.
During the meeting, the Uzbek side presented information about priority directions of attracting investments into economy of Uzbekistan, potential of Uzbekistan in oil and gas, machinery, aviation, mining, metallurgy and production of construction materials.
The Korean delegation familiarized with privatization processes in Uzbekistan, reforms in economy, small and private businesses, conditions and preferences in Navoi free industrial and economic zone.
The sides discussed issues of further expanding and strengthening of wide-scale cooperation between Uzbekistan and South Korea, developing mutual relations, developing and implementing projects of mutual interests.
On June 9 UzDaily.com reported that Indorama Industry Pte Ltd (Singapore) will invest $ 55 million to organization of textile production at the incomplete complex Qoqand Textile Combine.
Indorama Industry Pte Ltd and National Bank for Foreign Economic Activity of Uzbekistan will create joint venture with the charter capital of $ 20 million. The share of Singaporean side is 76% and NBU – 24%.
After commission in 2013, Qoqand Textile Combine will process about 16,000-20,000 tonnes of cotton-yarn a year.
It is expected that the enterprise will annually export yarn to textile enterprises at the volume of $ 26 million – $ 32 million.
On June 9 the new World Bank report Global Economic Prospects 2010 said that real GDP growth of Uzbekistan will make up 8.3% in 2010.
The bank said the economy of Uzbekistan will continue to demonstrate strong growth in the next two years as well. The World Bank specialists said the real GDP growth will make up 8.7% in 2011 and 9% in 2012.
GDP in Uzbekistan reflects a massive programme of public infrastructure construction and supported by a rebound in international energy prices.
Current account balance to GDP will make up 7.8% in 2010, the report said. The figure will grow to 8.5% in 2011 and 8.8% in 2012.
On June 9 Uzpromstroybank inked a loan agreement with China’s Export-Import Bank. In line with the document, the Chinese bank will allocate loan for $ 113 million within the economic cooperation between Uzbekistan and China on the programme of crediting of the SCO member countries.
The loan will be directed at the modernization of Angren coal mine in Tashkent region. Total project cost is $ 154.4 million.
Besides, China’s Export-Import Bank allocated $ 70 million loan for modernization of gas distribution network in Uzbekistan.
On June 9 Chinese President Hu Jintao arrived in Tashkent for a state visit to Uzbekistan, where he will also attend a Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) summit.
Uzbek President Islam Karimov and Hu Jintao met in Tashkent to discuss ways of enhancing bilateral cooperation. The two leaders exchanged views on the current situation and prospects of bilateral ties as well as international and regional issues of common concern.
The sides signed several documents on cooperation in trade-economic and other spheres at the result of the talks.
On June 10 it became known that Uzbekneftegaz national holding company and China National Petroleum Corporation (CNPC) signed a framework agreement on supply of natural gas.
In line with the document, Uzbekistan will supply about 10 billion cu m of natural annually. The two sides would work to connect Uzbekistan’s natural gas transmission system with the China-Uzbekistan natural gas pipeline, first line of which was launched in December 2009.
On June 10 it became known that the Government of Uzbekistan and Petronas Carigali Overseas (Malyasia) signed a product-sharing agreement in relation to Baisun investment block in Surkhandarya region.
According to Uzbekneftegaz, the agreement was approved by the resolution of the Uzbek president “On conducting exploration works at Baisun investment block in Surkhandarya region of Uzbekistan with development of hydrocarbons on the base of product sharing agreement with PETRONAS Carigali Overseas Sdn.Bhd”.
The document was adopted in order to increase extraction and export of hydrocarbons through attraction of foreign direct investments and special advanced technologies to conducting geologic exploration works, development and mining hydrocarbons.
The resolution also was adopted to implement presidential resolution from 2 May 2008 “On measures on further cooperation with PETRONAS corporation in geologic exploration works, development and field construction and development of oil and gas chemical industry”.
On June 10 President of Uzbekistan Islam Karimov held a meeting with the Russian leader Dmitry Medvedev. Medvedev arrived in the capital of Uzbekistan for a two-day Shanghai Cooperation Organisation summit.
The President of Uzbekistan briefed President Medvedev about the preparations for the SCO Council of Heads of State meeting.
The Russian leader expressed his confidence that the Tashkent SCO summit will be interesting, intensive and productive.
On June 10 President of Uzbekistan Islam Karimov held a meeting with the Mongolian President Tsakhia Elbegdorj.
Uzbek President Islam Karimov said that the participation of the Mongolian leader will enrich the summit. He added that this is the first visit of Mongolian President to Uzbekistan and it will help him to familiarize with culture and heritage of Uzbekistan, economic potential and discuss perspectives of the Uzbek-Mongolian relations.
Tsakhia Elbegdorj, in his turn, expressed gratitude for warm welcome and highly evaluated the level of the summit organization, UzA reported.
Mongolian president expressed his assurance that new opportunities for expanding trade-economic relations with Uzbekistan will give impulse for strengthening of bilateral cooperation.
On June 10 Uzbek President Islam Karimov held talks with his Kazakh counterpart Nursultan Nazarbaev.
Islam Karimov said the constructive mood of the SCO Tashkent summit participants serves as good base for the productive work, which will reflect in efficiency of the organizations.
Kazakh President underlined efforts of Uzbekistan during its presidency in the SCO and it served for improving structure and mechanisms of adopting decision on key directions of the regional policy.
During the talks, the sides discussed issues of expanding the Uzbek-Kazakh dialogue in high level and exchanged opinion on actual issues of mutual cooperation. They also discussed issues on rational use of water-energy resources in Central Asia, interaction within the international structures.
They also considered issues of regional security, including fighting terrorism, extremism, drug trafficking and other threats of regional security, UzA reported.
On June 11 in Tashkent was held the 10th meeting of the Council of Heads of States of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO). A summit of the SCO has got under way in the Tashkent.
During the talks, the participants discussed issues on improving activity of the SCO and its bodies, further development of cooperation in politics, trade-economic and humanitarian spheres among the member states.
The sides also considered strengthening of regional security and stability, joint fight against terrorism, regional extremism and separatism, illegal drug trafficking and weapon turnover, situation in Afghanistan.
On June 11 participants of the SCO summit approved a series of documents, including the Tashkent Declaration, the SCO Rules of Procedure, and the regulation on procedure for future membership expansion.
The documents were adopted following the annual SCO summit, which was attended by leaders and delegates of SCO member countries and observer nations.
The SCO members agreed in the Tashkent Declaration to further enhance cooperation in combating terrorism, separatism and extremism, illegal drug trade and organized transnational crime, Xinhua reported.
In the declaration, SCO members reiterated that the situation in Kyrgyzstan bears great influence to regional stability and the other five SCO member states are willing to provide essential support and assistance to Kyrgyzstan.
The member states also vowed to work jointly to continue minimizing the impact of the financial crisis and pushing forward economic development.
On June 11 President of Uzbekistan Islam Karimov discussed issues of developing cooperation with his Pakistani counterpart Asif Ali Zardari.
During the meeting at the Koksaroy presidential residence, the sides noted that it is vital to cooperate in settling situation in Afghanistan as both countries are interested in establishing peace and rehabilitation of the country. The sides underlined that they have common views on preventing modern threats of regional and international security, UzA reported.
Pakistani President expressed his gratitude to the Uzbek president for invitation to the SCO summit. Zardari said Pakistan considers Uzbekistan as important partner, promoting expansion of economic cooperation with the Central Asian states and political interaction in security issues.
On 11 June President Islam Karimov held negotiations with the President of Tajikistan Emomali Rahmon. During the meeting, the Uzbek President underlined sustainable character of the Uzbek-Tajik relations on wide-range of issues of regional cooperation, including in settlement of the situation in Afghanistan.
In his turn, Emomali Rahmon expressed gratitude to Islam Karimov for warm welcome and high level of the SCO summit organization.
Tajik leader underlined timeliness and efficiency of Uzbekistan initiatives on raising authority of the SCO during its presidency, UzA reported.
On June 11 President of Uzbekistan Islam Karimov received the minister of external relations of India Somanahalli Mallaiah Krishna.
Indian minister arrived in Uzbekistan to participate as observer at the Tashkent Summit of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization.
Islam Karimov underlined gradual development of relations between Uzbekistan and India, as well as historic, cultural and spiritual closeness of Indian and Uzbek people.
Uzbek leader said that the visit of the minister and his participation at the summit provided good opportunity to discuss current state and perspectives of bilateral relations, as well as exchange opinions on regional development problems in the SCO area.
During the meeting, Shri S.M. Krishna expressed his earnest gratitude to the President of Uzbekistan for the warm welcome and emphasized India’s interest in the further enlarging the mutually beneficial cooperation with our nation.
Sources: www.mfa.uz, www.uzreport.com, www.uzdaily.com
Prepared by Jasur Eshniyazov, expert of CPS
