TEHRAN (Iran News)  Pezeshkian made the remark in a Monday meeting with Uzbekistan’s Prime Minister Abdulla Aripov, who arrived in Tehran on Sunday at the head of a delegation to hold talks with senior Iranian officials.

“We can bring greater comfort and welfare to the people of our countries as well as more peace, security, and stability to the region by deepening relations and exchanging experience, capabilities, and mutual achievements,” he said.

He pointed to the historical, cultural, linguistic, and ideological commonalities between Tehran and Tashkent and added that geographical borders have failed to and will not be able to separate the two countries.

Pezeshkian noted that more exchange of visits among the two countries’ officials and people will play an effective role in strengthening mutual relations in all fields.

The Uzbekistan’s prime minister, for his part, said great efforts by the two countries’ presidents have been very effective in advancing common objectives and promoting mutual relations.

Referring to his visit to an exhibition of Iran’s scientific, industrial and technical achievements, Aripov hailed the country’s considerable progress in various fields.

In the presence of Iran’s First Vice President Mohammad Reza Aref and Aripov, Iran and Uzbekistan signed four documents for expanding bilateral cooperation in different fields.

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According to reports, the event takes place simultaneous with a visit to Tehran by Uzbekistan’s President Shavkat Mirziyoyev.

Representatives from 50 different Uzbek companies are said to participate in the forum which will also be attended by ministers and other high-ranking officials from both countries.

The Uzbek companies attending the forum are active in different areas including agriculture, sweets, chemicals, cosmetics and drugs, constructional materials, digital technologies, mining and geology, irrigation systems, plastic and textile industries, electronic equipment, leather, jewelry, and auto industries, energy, and transportation.

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The meeting took place at Uzbekistan’s presidential palace in Tashkent on Thursday, a day after officials from both countries wrapped up the 15th meeting of Iran-Uzbekistan intergovernmental commission co-chaired by the Iranian caretaker minister and Uzbekistan’s Minister of Investment, Industry and Trade Laziz Kudratov.

During talks with the Uzbek prime minister, Niazi announced Iran’s readiness to welcome Uzbekistan’s president in his upcoming visit to the Islamic Republic.

He also stressed that the Iranian government attaches paramount importance to the development of ties with neighboring and aligned countries including Uzbekistan.

The Uzbek premier on his part referred to the key role the Islamic Republic plays in the region. Aripov also said that his country is keen on using Iran’s experience in industrial and cultural heritage fields.

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Speaking to IRAN NEWS, Abdullaev said at the present stage, Uzbekistan is steadily moving along the path of large-scale reforms aimed at further development of the country and improving the welfare of the people. One of the significant events in the history of the country will be the upcoming referendum on the Constitution on April 30 this year. A package of amendments, which should change the Basic Law by more than half, will be put to vote.

He further said “In the current version the Constitution has existed since 1992. The number of articles in the Basic Law is to be increased from the current 128 to 155, and the number of norms from 275 to 434, which will respectively change the content by 65%. Thus, the number and content of these changes and additions demonstrate the need to adopt a new version of the Constitution.”

The Uzbek diplomat noted “The necessity of the Constitution reform was pointed out by President Mirziyoyev in his inaugural speech in November 2021, specifying that such a proposal came from the people of the country. In 2022, at a meeting with members of the Constitutional Commission, the President proposed adopting amendments to the Constitution through a referendum. In the preparation of the document, more than 220 thousand proposals were received from the citizens of the country, and every fourth proposal was taken into account in the draft of the new Constitution. The amendments to the Constitution are being made in the context of the advancement of large-scale reforms in the country. In February 2017 the President of Uzbekistan approved the Strategy of actions on five priority areas of the country’s development in 2017-2021, which was successfully implemented in five stages, each of which provided for the approval of a separate annual state program for its implementation.”

The five-year period of implementation of the Strategy of actions was marked by a new stage of development of our republic, he stated, adding “Within the framework of the Strategy of actions on five priority directions of development of the Republic of Uzbekistan in 2017-2021 for the past period about 300 laws, more than 4 thousand decisions of the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan were adopted, aimed at radical reforming all spheres of life of the state and society. As a result of reforms in the country the political-legal, socio-economic and scientific-educational foundations necessary for the construction of the New Uzbekistan were created.”

In 2022 the Development Strategy of New Uzbekistan for 2022-2026 was adopted to identify priority areas of reforms aimed at further improving the well-being of people, transforming economic sectors, accelerating the development of entrepreneurship, unconditionally ensuring human rights and interests, and forming an active civil society. The implementation of measures under this Strategy will contribute to the further development of the state and society, Abdullaev reiterated.

In this regard, the updated Constitution unifies the people of Uzbekistan around the idea of building a developed state – New Uzbekistan, which takes into account the interests of all segments of the population. The broad public, political parties, public organizations, representatives of expert and scientific circles, and intellectuals took an active part in the drafting process, the Uzbek diplomat mentioned.

Abdullaev then highlighted a number of important factors in the new edition of the Constitution, which contribute to the further development of the state and society and mark a historic stage in the development of New Uzbekistan:

First, as a solid legal basis and a reliable guarantee of the long-term development of the state and society, it is indicated that Uzbekistan is a “sovereign, democratic, legal and social state”, and these principles cannot be changed. The new version emphasizes that “the Republic of Uzbekistan pursues a peace-loving foreign policy aimed at the full development of bilateral and multilateral relations with states and international organizations,” which will further enhance Uzbekistan’s image in the international arena.

Secondly, the draft law includes issues of improving the system of state power and administration, the separation of representative and executive local authorities. The powers of the Legislative Chamber and the Senate are considerably expanded, duplication in the work of the two chambers is eliminated, and their area of responsibility is clearly defined. There are also plans to give mahallas (neighborhood self governed institutions) independent decision-making powers to solve everyday problems of the population and to create the organizational and financial capabilities to do so. All this will serve to increase transparency and effectiveness of decision-making by the state power.

Third, strong social protection is envisaged, in particular, the state will assume a number of new obligations to reduce poverty, ensure employment, and protect against unemployment. Overall, the norms containing the state’s social obligations are tripled.

Fourth, changes are associated with the consolidation at the constitutional level of such issues as the organization of high-quality and qualified medical care, the development of education, the guarantee of the inviolability of private property, and the status of civil society institutions. Comprehensive environmental protection measures are envisaged as a mandatory condition for improving the quality of life and health of the population.

Fifth, in the field of competitiveness of the economy and private entrepreneurship a norm is being established according to which the state guarantees the protection of property rights and related rights, and the restriction of property rights shall be carried out only on the basis of a court decision.

Free movement of goods, services, labor and financial resources is guaranteed in Uzbekistan.

Sixth, the freedom of the media, their right to seek, receive, use and disseminate information is guaranteed. For the first time the Basic Law includes a separate chapter on civil society institutions and guarantees of their activity, which will serve as a solid basis for strengthening the atmosphere of openness, transparency and legality in society, the dialogue between the state and society, the establishment of a strong public control.

In general, all these constitutional norms correspond to the priorities of the Development Strategy of New Uzbekistan. So the upcoming referendum on the amendments to the Constitution of Uzbekistan will contribute to the continuation of large-scale reforms in the country, which create a solid foundation for the development of the state and society for the benefit of the present and future generations of Uzbekistan citizens, Abdullaev concluded.

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TEHRAN (Iran News) –Since ancient times, Persia and the countries in the area of modern Uzbekistan had diplomatic relations in terms of trade, economy, and many other important factors.

It is also important to mention that tourists often notice the influence of Persian architecture in some historical buildings in Uzbekistan. Also, there are some Timurid monuments in Iran that remind unique architecture of the Timurid Empire. It indicates that historically these countries had close relations. Today, again these two countries, Uzbekistan and Iran have really good diplomatic relations.

After Iran recognized the independence of the Republic of Uzbekistan and established diplomatic relations between the two countries, the embassy of Iran in Tashkent opened in November 1992, and the embassy of the Republic of Uzbekistan in Tehran in May 1995. The first visit of the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan Islam Karimov to Iran took place in November 1992. On April 26-28, 2002, the President of the Islamic Republic of Iran Mohammad Khatami paid an official visit to the Republic of Uzbekistan.

In September 2022, President of Iran Islamic Republic Ibrahim Raisi paid an official visit to the Republic of Uzbekistan for the first time. The negotiations between the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev and the President of the Islamic Republic of Iran Ebrahim Raisi took place at the Samarkand Congress Center. The President of Uzbekistan congratulated President Ibrahim Raisi on the 30th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries.

During the talks, the leaders discussed expanding the practical cooperation in the political, trade and economic, investment, transport and logistics, cultural and humanitarian areas. It is also essential to note that the Uzbek-Iranian relations have gained a strong development in recent years. For instance, the trade turnover increased by 73% in 2021. And it has been noted that there are great opportunities to further increase the trade turnover – up to $1 billion in the near future.

During the negotiations, particular attention was paid to the transport and logistics collaboration. It was noted that establishing road transport along the “Uzbekistan-Turkmenistan-Iran” route, the effective use of “Chabahar” port’s potential and the facilitation of goods entry and transit shall expand the opportunities in this direction. One of the highlights from the meeting, Ebrahim Raisi has invited the President of Uzbekistan to pay a return visit to the Islamic Republic of Iran at his convenience.

While talking about Uzbekistan and Iran, it is important to mention cultural and historical ties. There are many beautiful historical monuments in cities like Samarkand, Bukhara which are designed by Iranian architects. For instance, it is said in history books that Amir Timur invited very skilled artisans from Isfahan, Shiraz and other ancient cities of Iran to Samarkand and they built very big and fascinating mosques, madrasas.

Furthermore, there are also some historical constructions in Iran built under Timurids, such as Gawharshad Mosque in Mashhad. There is also much similarity in cultures and Persian language was spoken in Central Asia for many centuries, which is why, there are some similar words in Persian and Uzbek languages. Last but not least, Uzbekistan is home to many pilgrimage places and mausoleums of great Islamic scholars like Imam al-Bukhari. Iranian people are always welcome to visit those places and enjoy Uzbek hospitality.

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A plane from Qeshm Air landed at Tashkent International Airport on December 22. It is planned that regular flights will be carried out once a week – on Thursdays.

The operation of these flights is the result of agreements between the leadership of Uzbekistan and Iran, reached during the official visit of the President of the Islamic Republic of Iran, Ebrahim Raisi, to Uzbekistan in September this year.

In particular, during the visit, a program of cooperation in the field of tourism was adopted, aimed at simplifying a number of visa procedures and enhancing tourist flows between Iran and Uzbekistan.

Qeshm Air is an Iranian airline headquartered in Tehran, founded in 1993, which operates scheduled domestic and international passenger flights, as well as charter flights.

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According to report, concurrent with International trade exhibition in Tashkent, a trade delegation comprised of representatives in fields of construction, food and agro industries, medicines, textile and detergent and hygienic materials, is to be dispatched to this event in Uzbekistan.

The chamber has invited all interested Iranian business activists for registration.

In recent years the trade between Iran and Uzbekistan has increased significantly.

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In a meeting between Iranian Deputy Oil Minister for International Affairs Ahmad Assadzadeh and Uzbekistan’s Acting Energy Minister Azim Ahmed Khojayev in Tashkent on Monday, the two sides discussed the roadmap of short and long-term cooperation between the two countries in the energy sector and determined the framework of cooperation.

As reported, Asadzadeh traveled to the Central Aian country on top of a high-ranking delegation in order to make the necessary preparations for the two countries’ first energy cooperation memorandum of understanding (MOU) which is due to be signed at the Shanghai summit.

The representatives of the Iranian companies present in this meeting, while introducing their abilities and capacities, discussed the existing fields of cooperation with Uzbekistan, with the Acting Minister of Energy and other managers of that ministry.

In this meeting, the MOU on the development of bilateral energy cooperation between Iran and Uzbekistan was also finalized.

This document is supposed to be signed by Iranian Oil Minister Javad Oji and his Uzbek counterpart during President Ebrahim Raisi’s state visit to Uzbekistan to participate in the Shanghai Summit due on September 15-16, 2022 in Tashkent.

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Hamid Nayyerabadi made the remarks on Sunday and said that the two countries of Iran and Uzbekistan enjoy the high potential to broaden and enhance their bilateral trade.

After meeting between the two presidents of the two countries in the very near future, it is expected that relations between Iran and Uzbekistan will be further developed and expanded, he underlined.

The 14th Joint Commission on Economic, Cultural, Scientific and Technical Cooperation of Iran and Uzbekistan was held in the early Esfand month of the current Iranian calendar year in Tehran with the presence of a high-ranking 60-member Uzbek delegation, he said, adding, “Some important documents in specialized fields will be signed and some other documents will be finalized in the future visits of senior officials of the two countries.”

The value trade exchanged between the two countries in 2021 hit $431 million, expandable to two million euro, the envoy added.

In their meetings on the sidelines of Shanghai Cooperation Organization and ECO summits, Iranian and Uzbek presidents placed special emphasis on the comprehensive expansion of relations between the two countries and gave appropriate instructions to all relevant ministries and agencies in this regard, Nayyerabadi added.

In the end, the Iranian envoy to Tashkent reiterated that there is a very clear vision for the two countries at all political, economic and cultural levels and it is expected that with the meeting of the two presidents in the near future, dozens of documents in various fields would be inked in line with expanding relations between the Islamic Republic of Iran and Republic of Uzbekistan.

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Good opportunities exist for technological cooperation between the two countries and Uzbekistan is ready to interact with Iran in this field, appreciating Iran’s achievements in the field of technology, innovation, and development of knowledge-based firms, he added.

Umurzakov made the remarks during a visit to the permanent exhibition of Iranian technological products on Monday, with the presence of the Iranian Vice-President for Science and Technology, Sourena Sattari.

Referring to the establishment of the Uzbek Ministry of Innovative Development, he said that the nascent Ministry is willing to cooperate with Iran in the field of technology.

Stating that Iran’s experience can lead to the development of Uzbekistan’s science and technology parks, companies, and start-ups, he added that the two countries can even produce joint products.

Knowledge and research should be developed and scientific plans should be designed, but it is important that these plans are commercialized and realized in the field of production, he added.

Emphasizing the need to create a roadmap to form extensive cooperation in the field of science and technology, he suggested that an Uzbek delegation consisting of businesses and technology activists visit Iran to review all areas of the cooperation and create the roadmap.

Umurzakov also invited Sattari to his country to attend Tashkent International Investment Forum.

Referring to the activity of 6,500 knowledge-based companies and more than 1,500 creative companies, Sattari said that there are more than 10,000 startups in the country, which are among the leading ones in various fields of technology and innovation.

More than 98 percent of the country’s medicine is produced domestically by the efforts of knowledge-based companies. We now have the most powerful biotechnology companies in the region that export to other countries, he further explained.

Governments must prepare the ground for the interaction of entrepreneurs, professionals, and technologists on both sides, and in this direction, we are ready to lay the necessary groundwork, he also highlighted.

Science, technology advancement with knowledge-based ecosystem

Today, the country’s knowledge-based ecosystem accounts for more than 3 percent of GDP. And the figure is projected to reach 5 percent, however, the main goal is to step toward a 10 percent share in GDP, Sattari told Fars on February 13.

The share of knowledge-based companies in the country’s economy has exceeded 9 quadrillion rials (about $34 billion), and since 2019, it has experienced a growth of more than 450 percent, he stated.

The knowledge-based ecosystem is a newly-emerged ecosystem but has so far been able to solve many of the country’s problems.

The Innovation and Prosperity Fund affiliated with the Vice Presidency of Science and Technology has earmarked a sum of 170 trillion rials (nearly $650 million) to support knowledge-based companies over the past 4 years.

There are currently 6,263 knowledge-based companies operating in the country, offering advanced products and services in various fields of technology to domestic and foreign markets, and some of them have entered international markets, Siavash Maleki, deputy head of the Fund, stated.

The fields of aircraft maintenance, steel, pharmaceuticals, medical equipment, oil, and gas are among the sectors that researchers in technology companies have engaged in, leading to import reduction.

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