The United States and
Uzbekistan Launching a New Era of Strategic Partnership,
May 16, 2018
The United States and
Uzbekistan: Launching a New Era of Strategic Partnership
President Donald J. Trump
hosted President Shavkat Miromonovich Mirziyoyev of Uzbekistan today, marking
President Mirziyoyev’s historic first visit to the White House and ushering in
a new era of strategic partnership between the United States and Uzbekistan.
During the meeting, President Trump reaffirmed the enduring commitment of the
United States to the independence, territorial integrity, and sovereignty of
Uzbekistan. President Trump also recognized Uzbekistan’s tremendous progress on
important political, economic, and social reforms under the leadership of
President Mirziyoyev. The leaders resolved to strengthen the bilateral
relationship between the United States and Uzbekistan with a new dialogue to
reinvigorate the 2002 Declaration of Strategic Partnership, building on a broad
range of mutual priorities.
President Mirziyoyev
declared that progress in Uzbekistan is irreversible, underscoring that the
government must always place the Uzbek people’s interests first. President
Mirziyoyev’s “Five Year Strategy of Action” promotes good governance, judicial
reform and rule of law, economic liberalization, social development, and an
open and constructive foreign policy.
President Trump noted the
historic partnership of the United States with Uzbekistan in the fight against
terrorism. In the aftermath of the September 11, 2001 attacks on the United
States, Uzbekistan provided critical access and support to drive al-Qa’ida
terrorists from Afghanistan. During his visit, President Mirziyoyev reaffirmed
his full support for President Trump’s South Asia strategy and discussed
Uzbekistan’s initiatives to strengthen bilateral cooperation, share burdens,
and address regional security issues, including stability in Afghanistan.
President Trump
highlighted the importance of a strong and independent Central Asia and
applauded President Mirziyoyev’s efforts to convene Central Asian leaders for a
cooperative dialogue, as discussed during the November 2017 Samarkand
Conference. President Mirziyoyev joined other Central Asian leaders in March in
Astana, Kazakhstan, opening new possibilities for intraregional commerce and
cooperative approaches to address security challenges. President Trump recognized
Uzbekistan’s key role in this important dialogue and pledged the United States’
support to cooperation and development through the C5+1 regional format. Both
presidents expressed support for including Afghanistan in multilateral
cooperation formats in Central Asia.
Regional Security
President Trump
congratulated President Mirziyoyev on the success of the 2018 Tashkent
International Conference on “Peace Process, Security Cooperation and Regional
Connectivity in Afghanistan,” which reaffirmed that the international community
is united in its position that the Taliban immediately agree to peace talks
with the Afghanistan government. Both President Trump and President Mirziyoyev
condemned cowardly terrorist attacks against Afghanistan security forces and
innocent civilians, and committed to expanding dialogue to overcome the
challenges facing Afghanistan. President Mirziyoyev pledged steadfast political
support to the Government of Afghanistan and discussed the December 2017 visit
of Afghanistan President Ashraf Ghani to Tashkent, Uzbekistan, where the two
leaders signed a series of landmark agreements to increase trade and develop
critical infrastructure. President Trump recognized the important role that
Uzbekistan plays in regional economic development and praised Uzbekistan’s
efforts to expand the development of trade and commercial ties with
Afghanistan. He offered political support and planning consultations regarding
Uzbekistan’s railroad and infrastructure projects in Afghanistan.
President Mirziyoyev assured
continued support for the Northern Distribution Network and its contribution to
achieving peace and stability in Afghanistan. The United States and Uzbekistan
cooperate closely to secure the border with Afghanistan and to interdict the
illicit movement of narcotics. The two leaders condemned extremism and
international terrorism, and vowed to strengthen cooperation against these
common threats. They also committed to pursue agreements that will enhance
interoperability and improve regional security, and noted the importance of
strengthening the defense relationship by implementing the first-ever Five-Year
Plan of Military Cooperation.
Reforms and
People-to-People Ties
President Trump applauded
President Mirziyoyev’s ambitious reform program to improve the human rights
situation in Uzbekistan, noting the release of prisoners of conscience,
elimination of systematic child labor, and significant progress in reducing
forced labor. These accomplishments have created the conditions for increased
economic, political, and security cooperation. President Trump encouraged
President Mirziyoyev’s initiative to increase government transparency and
accountability to the people of Uzbekistan as a fundamental aspect of good
governance and domestic stability. Both leaders vowed to intensify constructive
cooperation to protect fundamental human freedoms, including the promotion of
religious freedom. President Mirziyoyev committed to implement a comprehensive
roadmap to advance religious freedom.
The presidents welcomed
the pending accreditation of the American Councils for International Education
in Uzbekistan, which will contribute to educational cooperation between the two
countries. President Trump pledged United States assistance to promote English
language education programs in Uzbekistan and commended Uzbekistan’s
accreditation of Voice of America activities and the opportunities it creates
for American media in the country.
Economic Cooperation
Both President Trump and
President Mirziyoyev committed to explore deeper economic cooperation that will
increase trade and create jobs in both countries. President Mirziyoyev pledged
to create favorable conditions for businesses in Uzbekistan and open its
markets for United States companies and investors by introducing international
standards of transparency, accountability, and rule of law. The leaders vowed
to explore greater economic cooperation, including in the fields of
agriculture, energy, finance, chemicals, tourism, textiles, health, and digital
innovation. During the visit, Uzbekistan signed over 20 major business deals
with United States companies, which, if fully implemented, will be worth more
than $4.8 billion and could sustain more than 10,000 U.S. jobs and open
opportunities for billions of dollars in future U.S. contracts.
President
Trump commended President Mirziyoyev’s reform program and recognized
Uzbekistan’s emerging role as an economic leader, as demonstrated by its offers
to host the meetings of the Central Asia Trade Forum and the United
States-Central Asia Trade and Investment Framework Agreement (TIFA) Council
this year. President Mirziyoyev announced that Uzbekistan seeks accession to
the World Trade Organization (WTO), and President Trump pledged United States
technical assistance as Uzbekistan undertakes a reform agenda to liberalize its
trade regime in line with WTO agreements. Uzbekistan committed to protecting
intellectual property by acceding to the Geneva Phonograms Convention and the
World Intellectual Property Organization Internet Treaties. The realization of
these initiatives will provide a solid foundation to explore future
opportunities for improved bilateral trade, investment, and economic
cooperation.
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