RISING THE U.S.-UZBEKISTAN RELATIONSHIP TO THE NEXT LEVEL:
MIRZIYOYEV'S HISTORIC VISIT
Sanjar Valiev,
Deputy Head of the Center, the Institute for Strategic and Regional
Studies under the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan.
Annotation
The official visit of the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan, Shavkat Mirziyoyev, to the United States of
America in May 2018 has been characterized as historic. Indeed, the Uzbek leader’s meetings at the White House,
Congress, with key departments, major corporations and international financial institutions indicate that this visit
brought significant results.
President Shavkat Mirziyoyev’s visit to Washington was historic, being the first official visit
of an Uzbek president since 2002. Mirziyoyev’s reception, and the breadth and width of
agreements signed, constitute an acknowledgement of the reform process in Uzbekistan, as well
as of the country’s newfound regional role and in particular its constructive approach to resolving
the problem of Afghanistan. Washington’s engagement in these efforts will further improve the
prospects of success in Uzbekistan’s domestic reforms and regional initiatives.
President Mirziyoyev received a warm welcome in Washington, being accompanied with
the highest level of Diplomatic protocol and being accorded significant time by U.S. President
Donald Trump. Following the negotiations conducted in Washington DC, the two Presidents
issued a Joint Declaration, “The United States and Uzbekistan: Launching a New Era of Strategic
Partnership.” A package of documents was signed during the visit, including protocols to enlarge
bilateral trade relations and cooperation in higher education and academic research, agricultural
industry and energy. A memorandum of understanding was signed to establish cooperation in
Uzbekistan’s bid to join the World Trade Organization (WTO) and to organize a Central Asian
Trade Forum in 2018 in Tashkent. Another Memorandum was signed between Uzbekistan’s
National Bank of Foreign Economic Activity and the U.S. Export-Import Bank to finance
cooperative projects. Corporations of the two countries signed more than 20 large contracts
estimated to be worth $4.8 billion. In the sphere of security, the U.S. and Uzbekistan agreed on
a five-year plan in defense and military affairs targeted at consolidation of peace and
stabilization in the region.
At the World Bank headquarters, World Bank Group President Jim Yong Kim praised
Uzbekistan’s reform process, and loan of agreements for $940 million was signed, with the
purpose of financing project in energy efficiency, horticulture, and emergency medical services.
The total World Bank engagement up to 2020 includes 27 significant projects, with a total worth
exceeding $4 billion. In addition, an agreement on consulting services was signed with
International Financial Corporation (IFC), focused on improving public-private partnerships to
attract private investors to Uzbekistan.
IMPLICATIONS: The visit’s significance stems only in part from the impressive array of
agreements concluded. On a deeper level, it constitutes the U.S. acknowledgment of immense
progress being done in Uzbekistan in the past two years; consolidates Uzbekistan’s reputation
as a country with a consistent and constructive foreign policy; and shows the value of
Uzbekistan’s approach to regional affairs, particularly Afghanistan.
Since coming to power, the new Uzbek president has launched wide-scale reforms in
almost all spheres of life, focused on improving governance, raising the international status of
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