On December 7, London hosted the fifth round of political consultations between Uzbekistan and the UK.

The delegations were headed by the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Uzbekistan Bobur Usmanov and Parliamentary Under Secretary of State at the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office of the UK Leo Docherty.

Representatives of the ministries of defense, internal affairs, investment, industry and foreign trade, poverty reduction and employment, ecology, environmental protection and climate change, higher education, science and innovation, preschool and school education, and the National Center on human rights of Uzbekistan also attended the negotiations.

The parties discussed the current state and prospects for further development of bilateral cooperation, as well as interaction within international organizations.

The sides exchanged views on expanding the political dialogue and enriching the common agenda with practical content. The importance of raising the level of political consultations to a strategic dialogue was noted.

Boosting up trade and economic ties were on the top of agenda. The sides underscored the importance of intensifying direct contacts between the business circles of the two countries, including within the framework of the Uzbek-British Trade and Industrial Council.

A preliminary agreement was reached on the development of joint investment projects, increasing trade volumes and expanding exports from Uzbekistan to the UK.

The parties confirmed their readiness to expand cultural and humanitarian ties, deepen cooperation in the scientific sphere, and implement joint projects in the field of preschool, school, higher and vocational education.

The delegations also considered certain aspects of regional and international agenda.

The sides agreed to hold the next round of political consultations in 2024 in Tashkent.