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Uzbekistan and Ukraine have good conditions for comprehensive cooperation

Uzbek President Islam Karimov and visiting Ukrainian Foreign Minister Konstantin Grishchenko discussed prospects for cooperation's development

TASHKENT, February 7 (Itar-Tass) — Uzbek President Islam Karimov and visiting Ukrainian Foreign Minister Konstantin Grishchenko discussed prospects for development of cooperation between Uzbekistan and Ukraine, as well as regional and international issues of mutual interests.

"The relations between our countries are based on a solid legal and contractual basis, which creates favorable conditions for development of cooperation in a whole range of mutually advantageous areas," Karimov underlined. He noted that the consultations between the foreign ministries of the two countries, which were last held during Grishchenko's visit, "confirmed the proximity and coincidence of views and approaches of Uzbekistan and Ukraine toward many issues of the development of international interaction and regional and international problems.

According to Karimov, Tashkent and Kiev "vigorously interact within the framework of such international bodies and the United Nations and the Commonwealth of Independent States."

The parties also considered issues of cooperation in economy, and an increase in a two-way trade. In 2011, the trade turnover between Uzbekistan and Ukraine amounted to 665.9 million dollars. There are 48 companies with Ukrainian stakes operating in Uzbekistan.

In the course of his official visit to Uzbekistan, Grishchenko met with the speaker of the upper house of the Uzbek parliament Ilgizar Sobirov, and heads of several ministries and departments. Representatives of the business circles of the two countries had a meeting at the republic's Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

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