He held constructive talks with senior figures from the Uzbek Government, including the Minister of Defence, Mr Kabul Berdiev, the Minister for Foreign Economic Relations, Investments and Trade, Mrs Galina Saidova, and the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr Anvar Salikhbaev.

Discussions focused on Afghanistan, the UK Government’s top foreign policy priority, the UK Embassy in Tashkent said.

He also attended a reception at the British Ambassador’s Residence to welcome the new Defence Attache at the British Embassy, Wing Commander Steve Chaskin. This was General Mason’s second visit to Uzbekistan.