Uzbek President Islam Karimov and Malaysian Prime Minister Abdullah bin Haji Ahmad Badawi held one-to-one and expanded meetings at the Dormon residence on 17 November.

During the face-to-face talks, the sides exchanged opinion on further expansion of bilateral political relations, broadening of trade-economic and humanitarian cooperation, topical regional and international issues of mutual interest.

It was noted that Uzbekistan and Malaysia have similar views on developing relations between two states and on international issues.

Uzbek President Islam Karimov and Malaysian Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi discussed cooperation issues within the ASEAN and the OIC.

The sides exchanged opinion on situation in Afghanistan and it was said views of Uzbekistan and Malaysia on the issue are similar. They underlined there is need to pay attention to wide-scale social-economic projects, rehabilitation of economy and employment of Afghan people.

During the expanded meeting, the sides discussed trade-economic and humanitarian cooperation between Uzbekistan and Malaysia, in particular, the sides considered issues of expanding trade turnover and number of joint ventures, as well as stimulation and support of cooperation among business circles in banking-finance, transport, tourism, ICT, chemistry, food, agriculture and other industries.

Uzbek President Islam Karimov proposed to the Malaysian side to use international logistic center, created at the Navoi Airport, to develop cooperation in transport communication. He said that it would open access to Central Asia for Malaysia.

Prime Minister of Malaysia Abdullah bin Haji Ahmad Badawi said that Malaysia is ready to be a bridge in cooperation of Uzbekistan with the countries of southern-eastern Asia.

The sides also discussed issues of use of Malaysian biotechnologies and cooperation in processing of agriculture technologies. The sides reviewed opportunities on opening of branches of Malaysian equipment, electronics and communication technologies' producers in Uzbekistan.

The parties paid a great attention to collaboration in humanitarian sphere, in particular, interaction in training of specialists and development of cultural and tourism relations.

On the results of negotiations, the sides adopted a joint statement between the Government of Uzbekistan and the Government of Malaysia. The sides also inked memorandum of understanding on cooperation in education, science and technologic cooperation, memorandum between Uzbekneftegaz and Petronas Carigali on cooperation in training of specialists for oil and gas sector, protocol on exploration of Surkhan investment block between Uzbekneftegaz and Petronas Carigali Overseas.

Uzreport.com