The agenda of the upcoming meetings in Tashkent is dominated by issues of Uzbekistan-US relations, the development of inter-parliamentary contacts, regional security and Afghanistan developments.
"Relations with the United States are a priority area in Uzbekistan's foreign policy. Uzbekistan will continue developing cooperation with the US on an entire spectrum of bilateral issues, i.e. political, economic and military-technological issues," the ministry press spokesman told RIA Novosti.
Uzbekistan is grateful to the US authorities for financial aid, he noted. "In 2002-2003 alone, the U.S. granted $420 million to Uzbekistan," he added.
The United States is among 10 leading trade partners of Uzbekistan. Bilateral commodity turnover over 10 months of 2003 reached $312.5 million.
At the outset of the US-led anti-terrorist campaign in Afghanistan, Uzbekistan allowed the U.S. and allied forces to deploy an airbase at its territory.
