Узбекистан продолжит развивать сотрудничество с ЕАЭС как наблюдатель

Shavkat Mirziyoyev at the meeting of the Supreme Eurasian Economic Council reaffirmed the country's commitment to develop cooperation with the EAEU and called for finding non-standard measures to overcome current challenges in the world and removing technical barriers to market access. He also advocated for the resumption of passenger transport links.

Uzbekistan continues to develop its partnership with the Eurasian Economic Union as an observer. This was stated by President Shavkat Mirziyoyev at a meeting of the Supreme Eurasian Economic Council on Friday. He took part in the online event as head of the state-observer to the EEU. TASS quoted him as saying.

Partnership with the EAEU is a very important direction for Uzbekistan, as the Union's countries "are our natural partners," Shavkat Mirziyoyev said. He reiterated "Uzbekistan's commitment to the progressive development of mutually beneficial cooperation with the Eurasian Economic Union.

The president called on the EAEU countries to remove technical barriers to market access. "Today, the task of forming favorable conditions for enhancing trade and economic cooperation, further eliminating technical barriers and recognition of certification in mutual trade between Uzbekistan and EAEU countries is more acute than ever," he said.

He added that the changes and crises occurring in the world have become a serious challenge to stability, and called on the community countries to work out a set of measures to counteract them together. "The era of globalization is moving into the phase of forming a new world order. We are witnessing the introduction of restrictive measures of an unprecedented scale, the disruption of logistical chains and cooperation links, the rise in prices for raw materials and foodstuffs and the exacerbation of social tensions. We believe that in this situation it is important to jointly develop a set of joint actions, find extraordinary solutions and use non-standard mechanisms of our cooperation," Shavkat Mirziyoyev stressed.

The head of state suggested that the EAEU should simplify procedures for attracting labor force. "The urgency of issues related to labor migration and attraction of specialists in our countries is increasing... I suggest adopting the necessary documents and introducing simplified procedures that will ensure the effective attraction of labor resources in accordance with the rapidly changing needs of the economies of EAEU member and observer countries," he said.

The President of Uzbekistan noted the importance of working on the issue of "resumption of passenger transport services between our countries in full.

Shavkat Mirziyoyev said that Uzbekistan intends to start the practical implementation of the Uzbekistan-Kyrgyzstan-China railroad project in the near future. According to him, the project will create additional opportunities for access to markets of the Asia-Pacific region. The planned main line will connect the three countries with Europe via Afghanistan, Iran and Turkey.

Uzbekistan is also ready to cooperate with EAEU partners in implementing the project on construction of Trans-Afghan railroad from Termez to Pakistan's Peshawar, which will provide the shortest access to South Asia with a market of 2 billion consumers," the president said.

Shavkat Mirziyoyev suggested holding a Forum on tourism industry development in Uzbekistan in autumn with the participation of leading companies from EAEC countries. "In the conditions of overcoming the consequences of the pandemic, the tourism sector can become a natural driver of economic development," the president said. Since the beginning of the year, Uzbekistan has seen a marked increase in the inflow of tourists, primarily from the EAEU countries, he added.

The Uzbek president also suggested developing a program of cooperation in the agricultural sector. The program of agricultural cooperation "could cover the issues of joint cultivation of grains and oilseeds in the EAEU countries, as well as fruit and vegetables, including early varieties in Uzbekistan, in order to ensure the saturation of our markets," he said.

According to the press service of the President of Uzbekistan, trade turnover between Uzbekistan and the EAEU countries in 2021 increased by 30%, and since the beginning of this year it has grown by 33%. The annual growth rate of attracted investments from the EAEU countries is about 25%. "Joint efforts have mitigated the negative consequences of the pandemic and ensured positive dynamics in the trade and economic cooperation of our countries," the statement said.