India, Uzbekistan released Joint Statement to intensify security cooperation, exchanges

India and Uzbekistan on 6 July 2015 released a Joint Statement (JS) to intensify security cooperation and exchanges. The JS was released during Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s official visit to Uzbekistan from 6 July to 7 July 2015. He visited Uzbekistan on the invitation of the President of Uzbekistan Islam Karimov.

PM Modi is on an eight-day visit to five Central Asian states, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan and Turkmenistan from 6 July to 13 July 2015. During the journey, he will also visit Russia to attend BRICS summit and SCO summit at Ufa on 9 July and 10 July 2015.

Details of the Joint Statement
• The two sides agreed to maintain regular bilateral consultations and political dialogue to promote mutual understanding on bilateral as well as regional and international issues.
• The two sides expressed their intention to strengthen coordination between the law enforcement agencies and special services of the two countries under the framework of the Uzbekistan-India Joint Working Group on Counter-Terrorism.
• They also agreed to expand cooperation in the fields of defence and cyber-security.
• The two sides agreed to take joint measures to expand and diversify the bilateral trade through facilitating participation in exhibitions, trade fairs, business forums and other joint business activities in Uzbekistan and India.
• They called for partnership in creating favorable conditions for investment by Indian companies in Uzbekistan, including in the framework of the Special Economic Zones "Navoi", "Angren" and "Jizzakh".
• They agreed to further develop mutually beneficial cooperation in transport & communication and agreed to explore various options to enhance surface connectivity between them.
• They agreed on the proposal to set up telemedicine links connecting medical institutions in Uzbekistan and India for medical consultations, exchange of experiences and teleconferences.
• A new Programme of Cultural Cooperation for the period 2015-2017 was inked and the two sides called for its full and timely implementation to expand cultural exchanges.
• The two sides agreed to implement practical measures under the framework of the bilateral Agreement on cooperation in tourism was signed during the visit.
• Both the sides called for comprehensive reforms of the UN structures, first of all, its Security Council, including expansion in both categories of membership. Uzbekistan reaffirmed its support to India’s candidature for permanent membership of the UN Security Council.
• They agreed to further strengthen mutual cooperation under the framework of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO).

During the visit, Prime Minister Modi also presented a specially commissioned reproduction of Khamsa-i-Khusrau by the great 13th century sufi poet Amir Khusrau to President Islam Karimov. Khusrau’s father hailed from Uzbekistan and invited the President of Uzbekistan to pay a visit to India at his convenience.

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