In a New Year congratulatory message sent to President of the Republic of Uzbekistan Islam Karimov Medvedev noted that the “outgoing year was marked by the further strengthening of Russian-Uzbekistani relations based on the solid principles of strategic partnership and alliance.”

“The intensive dialogue at various levels is playing an important role in the development of versatile bilateral ties,” the Russian president noted.

The head of state also stressed that he attaches “major importance to the bilateral preparation of our forthcoming talks in Tashkent which are to give a weighty impulse to the building up of mutually advantageous cooperation in all spheres.”

Medvedev is certain that “in the new year the interaction between Russia and Uzbekistan will be developing more dynamically - for the benefit of the peoples of our countries, in the interests of the strengthening of stability and security in Central Asia.”

The Russian and Uzbekistani presidents this year have met several times, including within the framework of an informal summit of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) in St. Petersburg in early June.

Then at a meeting with the Russian head of state the president of Uzbekistan made a proposal to unite the Collective Security Treaty Organisation (CSTO) and Eurasian Economic Community (EurAsEC) in order “to create a powerful organisation” on their base. Medvedev agreed that “various forms of integration help states interact.” At the same time the Russian leader said that Karimov’s idea should be discussed both at the bilateral meeting and with CIS colleagues. Karimov believes that “it is necessary not only to preserve the CIS, but also to develop and strengthen it, we have definitely close views on that.” “We see the prospects of the development of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) and CSTO,” the Uzbek leader noted. The president of Uzbekistan also said that “Uzbekistan entirely supports Russia’s foreign policy course” and on all the key issues “we have a similar stance.” Karimov stressed that “there are no undercurrents that could change this state of affairs.”

Medvedev also stated that Russia values cooperation with Uzbekistan in the security sphere. “Uzbekistan for us is a key strategic partner in Central Asia,” he said. “We have recently registered the trade-economic relations’ growth, opportunities for new projects are emerging, there are big plans for the future.” The mutual trade turnover is currently growing and has already exceeded 4 billion US dollars. Besides, Medvedev stressed, “we value the cooperation we are developing in the sphere of security, ensuring law and order in this most important region.” Karimov promised that he “will do everything necessary for the development and strengthening of relations” (with Russia).