TASHKENT, May 17 — Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim was accorded an official welcome at the Kuksaroy Presidential Residence today, in conjunction with his inaugural three-day official visit to Uzbekistan.
Anwar was received by Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev upon arrival at the presidential residence at 4pm local time (7pm Malaysian time) before both leaders introduced their ministers.
Anwar then made a courtesy call to Mirziyoyev and held a meeting with the President.
During the one-hour meeting, the two leaders discussed relations between Malaysia and Uzbekistan as well as explored potential areas of cooperation.
They are also expected to sign a joint statement and hold a press conference.
Later in the evening, Anwar and the Malaysian delegation will attend an official dinner hosted by Mirziyoyev.
Earlier, the special aircraft carrying the Prime Minister, who was flying in from Kazakhstan, landed at the Tashkent International Airport at 2.15pm local time.
From the airport, he went to the Independence Monument in Yangi Uzbekistan Park for a wreath-laying ceremony before proceeding to the presidential residence.
Anwar is accompanied by Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Hassan; Investment, Trade, and Industry Minister Tengku Datuk Seri Zafrul Tengku Abdul Aziz; Tourism, Arts, and Culture Minister Datuk Seri Tiong King Sing, Minister in the Prime Minister's Department (Religious Affairs) Datuk Mohd Na'im Mokhtar, and the Malaysian Ambassador to Uzbekistan Ilham Tuah Illias.
The visit is aimed at enhancing bilateral relations in various fields between the two countries.
According to the Foreign Ministry, Anwar is visiting at the invitation of Mirziyoyev.
Uzbekistan is the last stop of Anwar’s official visit to three Central Asian countries. He had earlier visited the Kyrgyz Republic and Kazakhstan.
Tomorrow, the Prime Minister will visit the Imam Hazrati Complex, where the original manuscript of the Caliph Usman Quran (Mashaf Uthmani) — the oldest in the world — is kept and displayed.
From Tashkent, he will travel to Samarkand, where he is expected to address the High-Level Uzbekistan-Malaysian Business Forum at the Silk Road Samarkand Tourism Complex.
Malaysia and Uzbekistan have enjoyed close relations since they established ties in 1992.
In 2023, Malaysia-Uzbekistan total trade was RM451.1 million (US$94.03 million), with exports to Uzbekistan amounting to RM449 million (US$93.6 million) and imports amounting to RM1.99 million (US$414,518).
— Bernama
