Uzbekistan and Ukraine, which are one of the ancient cradles of civilization, has long-standing historical ties of friendship and cooperation based on mutual respect and interest, which are now consistently developing and strengthening. It should be noted that Ukraine is among the first to recognize the independence of our country. State visit of the President of Uzbekistan Islam Karimov and the signing on August 25, 1992 in Kiev, an international treaty on the establishment of diplomatic relations marked the beginning of cooperation between our countries. Diplomatic Mission of Ukraine in the Republic of Uzbekistan was opened in 1993. Embassy of the Republic of Uzbekistan in Ukraine was established in 1995.

Today Ukraine for Uzbekistan is the well-tried partner and friend. Between our two countries has never been any controversy.

Currently the relationship between Uzbekistan and Ukraine have been developing in all directions in accordance with the requirements of time.

Ukraine has an exceptionally powerful industrial potential, developed agriculture, industrial and social infrastructure, favorable geopolitical position. All this makes Ukraine attractive for foreign investors for expansion of Uzbek-Ukrainian cooperation.

I would like to emphasize that in a phased strengthening bilateral relations play a key role Presidents of the two countries.

When it comes to the Uzbek-Ukrainian relations, especially, it should be noted that political agreement, the closeness of views and positions of the two countries on many issues of international and regional politics.

1. Between two countries formed a solid legal base - there are 149 documents aimed at establishing a productive and mutually beneficial cooperation in the political, diplomatic, economic, trade, investment, cultural and humanitarian spheres.

2. The Uzbek side is interested in continuing an active dialogue between the foreign activity ministries of the two countries.

Important impulse to further enhance cooperation in this direction gave the visit of Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine Konstantin Grishchenko in February 2012 to Tashkent, and the next round of ministerial political consultations held in May this year in Kiev, during which they discussed issues of bilateral and international issues of mutual interest. This year, the sides noted the 20th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Uzbekistan and Ukraine.

I want to emphasize that an effective mechanism of state support for the development of bilateral relations is the work of the Joint Uzbek-Ukrainian Intergovernmental Commission on comprehensive cooperation, headed by the Prime Ministers of the two countries. The Uzbek side is preparing to host the next meeting of the Commission in Tashkent. The Uzbek side is interested in using the considerable potential of the Intergovernmental Commission for sustained and harmonious development of mutually beneficial relationships.

3. Positive factor of Uzbek-Ukrainian relations is the desire of the parties closely and fruitfully cooperate in trade and economic sphere.

Today, Ukraine is the 7th largest foreign trade partner of Uzbekistan, it accounts for about 6% of the total turnover of the republic, and ranked 3rd among the CIS countries (13%).

Dynamics of trade turnover between Uzbekistan and Ukraine for 2007 to 2012 and January-October 2013 presented in the following table:

2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 Jan-Oct 2013
Turnover 1 059,9 1 931,0 1 526,2 552,6 665,9 1 081,7 822,7
Export 629,9 970,7 691,1 175,7 180,0 410,5 414,1
Import 430,0 960,3 835,1 376,9 485,9 671,2 408,6
Balance 199,9 10,4 -144,0 -201,2 -305,9 -260,7 5,4

During 2012, bilateral trade amounted to 1 081.7 million US dollars. in January-October 2013, bilateral trade amounted to 822.7 million dollars, which allows to predict significant growth up to 2014 .

I am pleased to say that over time, our trade and economic relations have acquired a qualitatively new structure - to be exact, the Ukrainian market today is widely represented by products with high added value. In particular, the Ukrainian motorists well aware of cars produced on the basis of the Uzbek automotive industry.

Today, enterprises in Uzbekistan are ready to increase supplies to the Ukrainian market of agricultural machinery, chemical products, automotive products, polyethylene of high and low pressure, mineral oils, copper and zinc and their products, cable and wire products, fresh and processed fruit and vegetables, cotton fiber and finished textile products.

In turn, taking into account the traditionally developed in Ukraine metallurgical, steel and engineering industries, we invite Ukrainian partners to actively cooperate to supply modern equipment and technologies for processing of agricultural raw materials required, pipe and other products for the needs of the mining and processing industries of the Republic of Uzbekistan.

From Ukraine mostly imported mechanical and electrical equipment, ferrous metals and their products, vehicles, pharmaceutical products, rubber and rubber products, plastics and articles of paper and paperboard, fats and vegetable oils, chemical products, etc.

4. In the investment sector parties need to increasingly move to the implementation of joint projects, expansion of cooperation in priority sectors of the economy, in particular:

- in agricultural engineering: a joint assembly of tractors, agricultural machinery and components manufacture, maintenance on the basis of the enterprises of Uzbekistan and Ukraine;

- in the Republic establishment of joint livestock breeding imported from Ukraine breeding cattle, poultry farms and breeding reproducers with the introduction of Ukrainian technologies and equipment, the production of highly concentrated fodder and components, seeds and fodder crops;

- processing of fruits and vegetables, followed by the organization of its deliveries to the Ukrainian market and the CIS countries, as well as joint production of meat and dairy products, canned meat products;

- implementation of joint projects in the chemical industry, through the participation of Ukrainian companies in technical audit and reconstruction of Uzbekistan;

- Enhanced cooperation between UkrAuto and JSC Uzavtosanoat produced by the mutual supply of components and materials;

- in the oil and gas sector: Possible projects for the production of the necessary equipment for the construction of oil and gas industry of Uzbekistan and the participation of Ukrainian companies in the resuscitation of oil and gas wells in fields used for a long time;

- in the sphere of tourism: the creation of joint enterprises and the development of tourism products aimed at increasing mutual flow of tourists.

In the territory of the Republic of Uzbekistan there are 48 enterprises with participation of Ukrainian capital, including five companies with 100% foreign capital.

Activities of existing enterprises is concentrated mainly in the sphere of trade, wood, food and chemical industry, construction and services sectors.

Ministry of Foreign Economic Relations, Investments and Trade of the Republic of Uzbekistan accredited 11 Ukrainian firms and companies. These companies operate in the field of agricultural engineering, production of ferrous metals, pharmaceuticals and medicines, as well as the airline industry.

On the territory of Ukraine there are 31 joint ventures with the Uzbek capital. Areas of activity: production of consumer goods to supply crude to the Ukrainian market a wide range of export products, services, etc.

5. One of the strategic directions of cooperation is in the field of transport. In order to continue to create favorable conditions to increase the traffic flow between the two countries we need to intensify joint work aimed at ensuring:

- application of preferential tariffs in railway transportation through the territory of Ukraine of foreign goods from the Republic of Uzbekistan, including copper products and products of the chemical industry;

- continue to provide preferential conditions for reception and processing of cotton fiber in the ports, as well as expanding the range of goods in transit Uzbekistan using their preferential treatment conditions.

6. Further strengthening of scientific and technological cooperation fully meets the interests of both countries. Uzbekistan is ready to expand cooperation in the implementation of joint research projects, particularly in medicine, pharmacy and other areas.

Scientific schools in Ukraine are known for their achievements in the fields of new materials development, research in materials science, physics, computer science, electrical engineering, energy saving technologies, the use of alternative sources of energy, mining and many others.

Bilateral cooperation in the health sector is also actively pursued. The Uzbek side expressed gratitude to the Ukrainian side for assistance in training physicians and interested in developing mutually beneficial dialogue in this direction.

Also we are ready to continue cooperation on joint projects in pediatric cardiac surgery, gastroenterology, neurology and other areas of health care, as well as joint production of medicines.

7. A significant factor is the presence of cultural cooperation in Ukrainian and Uzbek diaspora, respectively, in the Ukraine, and Uzbekistan , which are making a worthy contribution to the rapprochement of cultures of Uzbek and Ukrainian people. In Tashkent now operate Republican Ukrainian Cultural Center "Slavutich" and urban Ukrainian Cultural Center "Batkivschina”.

In December 2002, in the capital of Uzbekistan there was held an opening a monument to the great son of Ukraine poet Taras Shevchenko. The parties also are considering the question of establishing a monument in Kiev to the outstanding poet and philosopher of the East, the illustrious son of Uzbek people Alisher Navoi.

Uzbek-Kiev cultural and economic society "Dustlik" (founded in January 2002), and the Kiev Regional Society of Uzbek culture operates In Ukraine.

In conclusion, I want to note that Ukraine is a state with which we want to have long-term and solid relationship and want to keep our agreement and good intentions always implemented. Between Uzbekistan and Ukraine there is a strong foundation and all the possibilities for lifting trade and economic cooperation between the two countries to a new level.