Envoy said that Uzbekistan and Belarus mark the 20th anniversary of diplomatic relations. He said that Uzbekistan and Belarus signed a corresponding protocol on agreement on main intergovernmental relations in 1993 to establish diplomatic ties.

He said that Uzbekistan and Belarus significantly advanced in development bilateral and multilateral relations within regional and international organizations such as the UN, OSCE, CIS and others.

Igor Sokol said that during 20 years Uzbekistan and Belarus signed 10 inter-state and intergovernmental agreements, 15 inter-departmental agreements and 8 international documents.

He said that the documents regulates bilateral relations in such areas as mutual visits of citizens, trade, standardization, taxation, culture, automobile, air and railway transport, military-technical cooperation, fighting crime, etc.

He added that two counties are planning to sign agreement in six directions as encouragement and protection of investments, protection of industrial property, agriculture, scientific-technical cooperation, judicial expertise and tourism. Belarusian side is ready to sign these documents in near future, Sokol added.

Ambassador Igor Sokol said that Uzbek-Belarusian economic cooperation is developing each year.

He said that Belarusian side annually purchase quality Uzbek products, including cotton-fibre, textile, agriculture products, and mineral fertilizers. He said that cars, produced in Uzbekistan, are highly demanded in Belarus.

In its turn, envoy said that Belarus supplies automobile, agriculture and communal equipments, medicaments, fiber, oil and gas products, electronics, etc.

Igor Sokol said that trade turnover between Uzbekistan and Belarus has grown over 3.3 times since start of new millennium. In 2012, trade turnover grew by 15% to US$124 million.

Belarusian consumer highly rate quality products from Uzbekistan such as textile and cotton products, as well as dry fruits, Belarusian diplomat said. He added that the volume of mineral fertilizers, raw tobacco and cotton increased in recent years.

Ambassador Igor Sokol said that Belarusian consumers are buying Uzbek-made cars with pleasure. In 2012, he said Uzbekistan exported cars for US$2.5 million to Belarus.

He said that Belarus also exports mining trucks BELAZ to large enterprises of Uzbekistan such as Navoi Mining and Metallurgy Combine, Angren Mining and Metallurgy Combine, Uzbekcoal, Kyzylkumcement, etc. He noted that Gomselmash supplies agriculture equipment to Uzbekistan.

Belarus Ambassador Igor Sokol said that Uzbekistan and Belarus are planning to hold several public-political and cultural-humanitarian events in 2013. He said it is planned to hold session of the Council of Foreign Ministers of CIS in Uzbekistan in April 2013 and Council of the heads of states of the CIS in November 2013 in Belarus.

Envoy underlined that it is planned to organize mutual visits of business circles and creative collectives in 2013.