Visit by Senior Minister of State, Ministry of Defence and Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Dr Mohamad Maliki bin Osman to the Republic of Uzbekistan, 2 to 5 April 2019

  Senior Minister of State (SMS), Ministry of Defence and Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Dr Mohamad Maliki bin Osman, made his introductory visit to the Republic of Uzbekistan from 2 to 5 April 2019.

          In Tashkent, SMS Maliki called on Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance Jamshid Kuchkarov, and acknowledged the growing cooperation between Singapore and Uzbekistan in sectors such as tourism, business and education.  Both sides agreed that there was potential to do more together for mutual benefit.

          SMS Maliki also met with Minister of Foreign Affairs Abdulaziz Kamilov and Minister of Preschool Education Agripina Shin.  During SMS Maliki’s call on Minister Kamilov, both sides reviewed the bilateral relationship and reaffirmed the warm and friendly relations between Singapore and Uzbekistan.  They also exchanged views on regional developments and security issues.  SMS Maliki and Minister Shin welcomed the growing interest from Singapore’s private sector in Uzbekistan’s pre-school education sector, and discussed their respective policies in this field.

          During the visit, SMS Maliki also met with Deputy Minister of Defence MG Azizbek Ikramov, Deputy Minister of Investments and Foreign Trade Shukhrat Vafaev, Deputy Mayor of Tashkent Rakhmanov Sharof, Chairman of the Senate Committee on International Relations, Foreign Economic Affairs, Foreign Investment and Tourism of the Oliy Majlis Alisher Kurmanov, and Director of the Institute for Strategic and Regional Studies Eldor Aripov.  Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Dilshod Akhatov also hosted SMS Maliki to lunch. 
 
          Deputy Minister Ikramov and Deputy Minister Akhatov had separate discussions with SMS Maliki on how both sides could strengthen cooperation and the need to collaborate with regional partners in counter-terrorism efforts and the fight against extremist ideology.  SMS Maliki also had wide-ranging discussions with Deputy Minister Akhatov and Director Aripov on developments in Central Asia and regional security issues.  SMS Maliki and Deputy Minister Vafaev agreed to explore ways to further expand economic cooperation, and welcomed plans for a Singapore business delegation to visit Uzbekistan.  Deputy Mayor Sharof also acknowledged the potential to further broaden and deepen cooperation, while SMS Maliki and Chairman Kurmanov reaffirmed the excellent ties between the respective parliaments.    

          As part of the visit, SMS Maliki met Singaporeans and representatives of Singapore companies in Uzbekistan to discuss about the economic opportunities in Uzbekistan.

          SMS Maliki also visited Samarkand, which is the burial site of renowned Islamic scholar Imam Bukhari.  SMS Maliki was received by Mayor of Samarkand Furkat Rakhimov, who also hosted him to lunch. 

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MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS
SINGAPORE
5 APRIL 2019

Call on Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance Jamshid Kuchkarov

[Credit: Ministry of Foreign Affairs]

Call on Minister of Foreign Affairs Abdulaziz Kamilov

[Credit: Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Uzbekistan]