At the invitation of the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan, H.E. Mr. Islam Karimov, the Prime Minister of India, H.E. Dr. Manmohan Singh, paid on official visit to the Republic of Uzbekistan on April 25-26, 2006.

The Prime Minister of India Dr. Manmohan Singh, held discussions with the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan, Mr. Islam Karimov. The talks were held in an atmosphere of friendship and trust. The two sides had detailed exchange of views on the issues of further development of bilateral relations in political, trade and economic, scientific and technical, cultural and humanitarian and other spheres of cooperation as well as on regional and international issues of mutual interest.

The two sides positively assessed dynamic development of India-Uzbekistan relations, reviewed in detail the follow up on decisions taken during the visit of the President of Uzbekistan to India in April 2005 and in this context noted the significant potential for further cooperation between the two sides for the benefit of the peoples of two countries as well as peace and stability in the region.

Both sides agreed on the importance of maintaining regular political dialogue including at the highest level on bilateral relations as well as on regional and international issues. The importance of greater contacts between the ministries, departments and economic entities of the two countries was emphasized. The two sides agreed to take active measures to promote people-to-people contacts.

Uzbekistan and India noted that there exist vast opportunities for the development of cooperation in the spheres of education, information technology, oil and gas sector, light industry, agriculture, aviation, tourism, entrepreneurship, mineral resources and pharmaceuticals.

The two sides noted with satisfaction the signing of the following documents during the visit:

i) Memorandum of Understanding between the Government of the Republic of India and the Government of the Republic of Uzbekistan on establishing the Uzbekistan India Entrepreneurship Development Centre at Tashkent;

ii) Memorandum of Understanding between the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas of the Republic of India and the National Holding Company "Uzbekneftegaz" of the Republic of Uzbekistan on Cooperation in the field of Oil and Natural Gas;

iii) Memorandum of Understanding on Cooperation between the Ministry of Coal and Mines of Republic of India and the State Committee of the Republic of Uzbekistan for Geology and Mineral Resources;

iv) Memorandum of Cooperation between GAIL (India) and Uzbekneftegaz;

v) Work Plan for 2007 under the Memorandum of Understanding for Cooperation in the field of Agricultural Research and Education between the Department of Agricultural Research and Education of the Ministry of Agriculture of the Government of the Republic of India and the Ministry of Agriculture and Water Resources of the Government of Republic of Uzbekistan;

vi) Memorandum of Understanding between State Trading Corporation of India and O'zbekyengilsanoat State Joint Stock Company of Uzbekistan;

vii) Memorandum of Understanding between Delhi University and Tashkent State Institute of Oriental Studies.

The sides while recognizing the need to enhance the trade-economic and investment cooperation, agreed to facilitate contacts between the representatives of business circles of the two countries.

The sides expressed satisfaction with the results of the Sixth meeting of the India-Uzbekistan Intergovernmental Commission on Trade, Economic, Scientific and Technological Cooperation held in New Delhi on March 7, 2006 and underlined the importance of early implementation of the provisions of the signed Protocol.

The Republic of Uzbekistan highly appreciates the inauguration of the Jawaharlal Nehru Uzbekistan India Centre for Information Technology in Tashkent.

The Indian side offered to set up satellite based tele-education and tele-medicine connectivity between India and Uzbekistan to strengthen cooperation in the area of communications and information technology. The Republic of Uzbekistan accepted with pleasure the Indian offer.

The sides noted with satisfaction the extension of cooperation in the sphere of the personnel training within the framework of Indian Technical and Economic Cooperation programme and other programmes. India offered an increase in the ITEC training slots for Uzbekistan from 100 to 120 from the current financial year. The sides have agreed to continue intensive interaction in this direction.

India offered to provide financial support to establish the Uzbekistan India Entrepreneurship Development Centre in Tashkent. Uzbekistan agreed to provide necessary support to facilitate the establishment of the Centre.

The sides expressed confidence that the rich historical and cultural heritage of the two countries provides a strong foundation for enhancement of all-round cooperation and intensification of contacts between scientists, teachers, students as well as artistic and creative personalities.

The Republic of Uzbekistan accepted with pleasure the offer of the Indian side to establish the Mahatma Gandhi Centre for Indian Studies at the Tashkent State Institute of Oriental Studies.

The two sides noted the similarity or coincidence of their respective positions on major global and regional issues. Uzbekistan and India, while resolutely condemning international terrorism in all of its forms and manifestations, once again underlined their resolve, on a long term basis, to fight against terrorism, which is one of the most serious threats to international peace and security. In this regard, the two sides emphasized the need for expeditious adoption of the Comprehensive Convention on International Terrorism within the framework of UN.

The two sides expressed satisfaction with the results of the Second meeting of the joint Working Group on Combating International Terrorism held in October 2005 in New Delhi and expressed the intention to continue consultations between the corresponding authorities of both states with the aim of coordinating their anti-terrorist efforts.

The two sides expressed their support for the efforts of the Government of Afghanistan to build a strong, united, prosperous and independent country.

Both sides, while considering the current changes in global and regional level stressed the urgent need for reforms of structure and activity of the United Nations Organisation and enhancement of its efficiency in countering new threats and challenges. Uzbekistan once again reiterated its support to the permanent membership of the Republic of India in an expanded UN Security Council. India expressed its appreciation for Uzbekistan's support.

The Republic of Uzbekistan noted that the accession of India to the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation as an observer is an important factor in raising the importance of the Organisation and expansion in its abilities to impact positively on regional and global processes.

Both sides shared the opinion that the intensification of cooperation within the framework of SCO in countering contemporary challenges would promote the development of effective mechanisms in strengthening regional security.

The two sides noted with satisfaction that the discussions and meetings held in Tashkent have made an important contribution to the steady development of mutually beneficial India-Uzbekistan cooperation, which would serve the cause of further strengthening traditionally friendly relations and multi-faceted cooperation between the two countries.

The Prime Minister of the Republic of India, H.E. Dr. Manmohan Singh invited the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan, H.E. Mr. Islam Karimov to pay an official visit to the Republic of India. The invitation was accepted with pleasure. The dates of the visit would be decided through diplomatic channels.