|
At the invitation of the President of the Republic
of Uzbekistan, H.E. Mr. Islam Karimov, the Prime
Minister of India H.E. Dr. Manmohan Singh, paid an
official visit to the Republic of Uzbekistan on
25-26 April 2006.
2. The Prime Minister of India Dr. Manmohan Singh
held discussions with the President of the Republic
of Uzbekistan Mr. Islam Karimov. The talks were held
in an atmosphere of friendship and trust. The two
Sides had detailed exchange of views on the issues
of further development of bilateral relations in
political, trade and economic, scientific and
technical, cultural and humanitarian and other
spheres of cooperation, as well as on regional and
international issues of mutual interest.
3. The two Sides positively assessed dynamic
development of India-Uzbekistan relations, reviewed
in detail the follow up on decisions taken during
the visit of the President of Uzbekistan to India in
April 2005 and in this context noted the significant
potential for further cooperation between the two
Sides for the benefit of the peoples of two
countries as well as peace and stability in the
region.
4. Both Sides agreed on the importance of
maintaining regular political dialogue, including at
the highest level, on bilateral relations as well as
on regional and international issues. The importance
of greater contacts between the ministries,
departments and economic entities of the two
countries was emphasized. The two Sides agreed to
take active measures to promote people- to-people
contacts.
5. Uzbekistan and India noted that there exist vast
opportunities for the development of cooperation in
the spheres of education, information technology,
oil and gas sector, light industry, agriculture,
aviation, tourism, entrepreneurship, mineral
resources and pharmaceuticals.
6. The two Sides noted with satisfaction the signing
of the following documents during the visit:
i)Memorandum of Understanding between the Government
of the Republic of India and the Government of the
Republic of Uzbekistan on establishing the
Uzbekistan India Entrepreneurship Development Centre
at Tashkent ;
ii)Memorandum of Understanding between the Ministry
of Petroleum and Natural Gas of the Republic of
India and the National Holding Company
“Uzbekneftegaz”of the Republic of Uzbekistan on
Cooperation in the field of Oil and Natural Gas
iii)Memorandum of Understanding on Cooperation
between the Ministry of Coal and Mines of Republic
of India and the State Committee of the Republic of
Uzbekistan for Geology and Mineral Resources;
iv)Memorandum of Cooperation between GAIL (India)
Limited and Uzbekneftegaz;
v) Work Plan for 2007 under the Memorandum of
Understanding for Cooperation in the field of
Agricultural Research and Education between the
Department of Agricultural Research and Education of
the Ministry of Agriculture of the Government of the
Republic of India and the Ministry of Agriculture
and Water Resources of the Government of the
Republic of Uzbekistan;
vi) Memorandum of Understanding between State
Trading Corporation of India and O’zbekyengilsanoat
State Joint Stock Company of Uzbekistan;
vii) Memorandum of Understanding between Delhi
University and Tashkent State Institute of Oriental
Studies.
7. The Sides while recognizing the need to enhance
the trade-economic and investment cooperation,
agreed to facilitate contacts between the
representatives of business circles of the two
countries.
8. The Sides expressed satisfaction with the results
of the Sixth meeting of the India- Uzbekistan
Intergovernmental Commission on Trade, Economic,
Scientific and Technological Cooperation held in New
Delhi on 7 March 2006 and underlined the importance
of early implementation of the provisions of the
signed Protocol.
9. The Republic of Uzbekistan highly appreciates the
inauguration of the Jawaharlal Nehru Uzbekistan
India Centre for Information Technology in Tashkent.
10. The Indian side offered to set up satellite
based tele-education and tele-medicine connectivity
between India and Uzbekistan to strengthen
cooperation in the area of communications and
information technology. The Republic of Uzbekistan
accepted with pleasure the Indian offer.
11. The Sides noted with satisfaction the extension
of cooperation in the sphere of the personnel
training within the framework of Indian Technical
and Economic Cooperation (ITEC) programme and other
programmes. India offered an increase in the ITEC
training slots for Uzbekistan from 100 to 120 from
the current financial year. The Sides have agreed to
continue intensive interaction in this direction.
12. India offered to provide financial support to
establish the Uzbekistan India Entrepreneurship
Development Centre in Tashkent. Uzbekistan agreed to
provide necessary support to facilitate the
establishment of the Centre.
13. The Sides expressed confidence that the rich
historical and cultural heritage of the two
countries provides a strong foundation for
enhancement of all round cooperation and
intensification of contacts between scientists,
teachers, students as well as artistic and creative
personalities.
14. The Republic of Uzbekistan accepted with
pleasure the offer of the Indian side to establish
the Mahatma Gandhi Centre for Indian Studies at the
Tashkent State Institute of Oriental Studies.
15. The two Sides noted the similarity or
coincidence of their respective positions on major
global and regional issues. Uzbekistan and India,
while resolutely condemning international terrorism
in all of its forms and manifestations, once again
underlined their resolve, on a long term basis, to
fight against terrorism, which is one of the most
serious threats to international peace and security.
In this regard, the two Sides emphasized the need
for expeditious adoption of the Comprehensive
Convention on International Terrorism within the
framework of UN.
16. The two Sides expressed satisfaction with the
results of the Second meeting of the Joint Working
Group on Combating International Terrorism held in
October 2005 in New Delhi and expressed the
intention to continue consultations between the
corresponding authorities of both states with the
aim of coordinating their anti-terrorist efforts.
17. The two Sides expressed their support for the
efforts of the Government of Afghanistan to build a
strong, united, prosperous and independent country.
18. Both Sides, while considering the current
changes in global and regional level stressed the
urgent need for reforms of structure and activity of
the United Nations Organisation and enhancement of
its efficiency in countering new threats and
challenges. Uzbekistan once again reiterated its
support to the permanent membership of the Republic
of India in an expanded UN Security Council. India
expressed its appreciation for Uzbekistan’s support.
19. The Republic of Uzbekistan noted that the
accession of India to the Shanghai Cooperation
Organisation as an observer is an important factor
in raising the importance of the Organisation and
expansion in its abilities to impact positively on
regional and global processes.
20. Both Sides shared the opinion that the
intensification of cooperation within the framework
of SCO in countering contemporary challenges would
promote the development of effective mechanisms in
strengthening regional security.
21. The two Sides noted with satisfaction that the
discussions and meetings held in Tashkent have made
an important contribution to the steady development
of mutually beneficial –India-Uzbekistan
cooperation, which would serve the cause of further
strengthening traditionally friendly relations and
multi-faceted cooperation between the two countries.
22. The Prime Minister of the Republic of India H.E.
Dr. Manmohan Singh invited the President of the
Republic of Uzbekistan, H.E. Mr. Islam Karimov to
pay an official visit to the Republic of India. The
invitation was accepted with pleasure. The dates of
the visit would be decided through diplomatic
channels.
Tashkent
26 April 2006
|
