Dear President Kuroda,
Esteemed Governors,
Distinguished representatives of foreign countries and guests,
Ladies and gentlemen,

First of all, allow me to cordially welcome the participants of the 43rd Annual Meeting of ADB Board of Governors, the representatives of high-profile international organizations and all guests who have arrived in Tashkent.

It is a great honor for us that the capital of our country has been first among those in Central Asia and Caucasus as a venue to hold this critical event, and we would like to express our sincerest words of gratitude to the governments of ADB member-states who took the decision.

President of the Republic of Uzbekistan Islam Karimov met with Philippe Le Houerou, Vice-President of World Bank for Europe and Central Asia Region, on April 30 in Oqsaroy.

Welcoming the guest, the head of state underscored the strategic nature of jointly realized projects in priority sectors of national economy and the consistent expansion of cooperation between Uzbekistan and the World Bank.

“Mr. Vice President, I am sincerely glad to welcome you in Tashkent and to express my earnest respect to you as well as the World Bank President Mr. Zoellick. World Bank representatives’ attendance of ADB annual meeting in Tashkent confirms the high level of mutual relations between the Republic of Uzbekistan and the World Bank”, President Islam Karimov said in particular.

On the eve of Forty-third Annual Meeting of the Board of Governors of the Asian Development Bank (ADB), President of Uzbekistan Islam Karimov met with ADB President Haruhiko Kuroda in Oqsaroy, April 30.

Welcoming the guest, the head of state pointed out that ADB is duly regarded as one of the most authoritative and influential international financial institutions to have had a long-standing and reliable partnership with our republic. The Bank's steadily applied strategy of cooperation with Uzbekistan backs this statement.

“Mr. Kuroda, let me first express a sense of highest respect for You and, welcoming You in Tashkent, thankfulness for Your choice of Tashkent as the venue for the upcoming meeting of Asian Development Bank, – President Karimov said. – Holding an international forum of such a level in this city is a great honor for our country and, at the same time, an event of historic significance. Latest meetings of Governors of Asian Development Bank approved four major investment projects worth over 1.14 billion US dollars. As you know, these projects cover such important areas of our development as improvement of transport and communication infrastructure, provision of drinking water, development of public utilities, construction of combined cycle unit at Talimarjan thermal power plant, as well as support for small and medium businesses through commercial banks of the republic”.

President of Uzbekistan Islam Karimov met with Meng Jianzhu, Member of State Council, Minister of Public Security of the People's Republic of China, in Oqsaroy on April 23.

Head of our state noted that priority aspects of Uzbek-Chinese cooperation include deepening the political dialogue, further reinvigoration of joint efforts in bolstering the regional security, including within frameworks of Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO), boosting the trade and investment cooperation for mutual benefit.

As the guest stated, efforts by Uzbekistan’s leadership to revitalize the SCO activity in many areas of regional cooperation, especially during our nation’s presidency in the Organization, have enjoyed broad international support.

Islam Karimov, President of the Republic of Uzbekistan, met with secretaries of security councils of Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) member states, SCO Secretary General Muratbek Imanaliyev, and Director of SCO RATS Executive Committee Dzhenisbek Dzhumanbekov, in Oqsaroy on April 23.

The head of state expressed satisfaction with the high level of interaction achieved in such areas of SCO activity as elaboration and implementation of complex multilateral actions to provide for regional security. The role of national security councils of this reputable international organization’s member countries is invaluable in joint coordination of those measures.

While articulating on the burgeoning credibility and significance of SCO efforts in the current circumstances, President Islam Karimov stressed its growing position in addressing regional and global security issues, combating international terrorism, separatism and extremism, drug trafficking and other challenges and threats in the strategically important Central Asian region.

President of the Republic of Uzbekistan Islam Karimov has been on official visit in Russia, April 19-20, at the invitation of President Dmitriy Medvedev.

Major part of events started in the Kremlin on April 20 with the meeting of Islam Karimov and Dmitriy Medvedev in tet-a-tet format. During the talks, the sides exchanged views on advancement of Uzbek-Russian relations, expansion of cooperation in the framework of international organizations, on regional and international issues of common interest, including the mitigation and overcoming the global financial and economic downturn.

Interaction with Russia in Uzbekistan’s foreign policy, as well as relations with Uzbekistan in Russia’s foreign policy, is of particular magnitude. Contemporary cooperation is premised on Strategic Partnership Treaty between the two nations signed in 2004, and the one on Allied Relations reached in 2005.

President of Uzbekistan has arrived with official visit in Moscow, Russia, on April 19, at the invitation of President Dmitriy Medvedev.

President Islam Karimov has left for Moscow April 19 on official visit at the invitation of Dmitriy Medvedev, President of Russian Federation.

Islam Karimov and Dmitriy Medvedev are to discuss prospects of promoting Uzbek-Russian cooperation as well as regional and international issues of common interest.

President Islam Karimov will be on official visit to Russia April 19-20 at the invitation of President Dmitriy Medvedev.

Your Excellency,

The news of the air crash that led to the tragic death of President of the Republic of Poland Lech Kaczynski, his spouse and members of the Polish delegation took us with deep sorrow...