Uzbekistan has large gas and oil reserves and is also among the world’s top 10 gold producers and the No. 2 cotton exporter.

Acting US Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Central Asia Pamela Spratlen was due to arrive in the Uzbek capital Tashkent for talks later on Thursday, an embassy statement said.

"We are convinced that the involvement of the Uzbek government in a discussion on a broad range of topics that are on our bilateral agenda," the statement quoted US Ambassador to Uzbekistan Richard Norland as saying.

He listed potential topics as regional safety, trade and investment, cultural exchange and human rights.

"We can see now that, unlike calls for isolation, international interest and interaction with the Uzbek authorities can lead to positive steps."