"In several days the fundamental document in our relations – the strategic partnership treaty will turn three years," he said at a meeting with his Uzbek counterpart Islam Karimov at the Konstantin Palace in Strelna outside St. Petersburg on Saturday.

"Probably something may develop more effectively, but in general we are satisfied with how the document operates and how our relations with Uzbekistan develop," he said.

"I hope that in short-term or mid-term we will be close partners, close friends and will step up our relations in the future," Putin said.