A member of the Russian delegation told Itar-Tass that Karimov had thanked Ivanov for Moscow’s attention to bilateral contacts within the inter-governmental commission on economic cooperation. The Russian official also confirmed that Uzbekistan sought to develop partnership with Russia and hoped for Russia’s readiness for this.

The Uzbek president supported the Russian leadership’s drive for developing the country’s economy. In his view, Russia and its neighbours, including Uzbekistan, will benefit from this, the Russian official stressed.

Ivanov and Karimov also discussed interaction in other fields, as well as the situation in the region.

Ivanov, as a co-chairman of the Russian-Uzbek intergovernmental commission, visited Tashkent in the beginning of July. He assured then that "Russia’s approach to the development of relations with Uzbekistan will be most serious", and that "we are ready to boost investments".

During Ivanov’s previous visit, Russia an Uzbekistan signed four documents on migration policy and aviation. The governments of the two countries concluded an agreement on labour, and protection of migrant workers’ rights, who are citizens of the Russian Federation and the Republic of Uzbekistan. They also signed accords on cooperation in fighting illegal migration and on readmission.

A contract has been signed between the Ilyushin company and the Tashkent-based Chkalov aviation production association for the manufacturing of two Il-76MF planes for Jordan.

Ivanov held talks with President Islam Karimov and Prime Minister Shavkat Mirziyayev, and evaluated them as "positive, on the whole."

At that time, he said, "By December, when the intergovernmental commission will have had its meeting, we’ll be ready to sign agreements in aerospace, including on Maidanak; the relevant instructions have already been issued."

One of the upcoming accords spells out cooperation in using the telescope at the Maidanak laboratory.

"In general, I’m very pleased; I hope that there’ll be fewer and fewer empty words in Russia-Uzbek relations; and that they’ll increasingly flesh out with specific projects," Ivanov stated.

He reminded that two-way trade had grown by 46.9 percent in the past few months. "Not a bad figure; but we’re well aware that the potential has not been exhausted yet," he said.

In early November, Uzbek Prime Minister Shavkat Mirziyayev said at a meeting with Russian Prime Minister Viktor Zubkov that contracts had been signed to supply from Uzbekistan to Russia more than 30 different models of Il aircraft. These include 28 Il-114, two Il-76 and two Il-78 planes, Mirziyayev said.

Russian companies Gazprom, Lukoil, Soyuzneftegaz, Strointransgaz cooperate with Uzbekistan. Gazprom has an export contract of supply of 13 billion cubic meters of Uzbek gas in 2007.

Under a programme of geological surveys, the Russian concern will invest up to US$400 million into the Ustyurt plateau in 2006-2011. Of this sum, US$260 million will be invested within the next three years.

The total cost of the package of agreements on investment projects between companies of the two countries in the fuel and energy sector reaches over US$3 billion. The implementation of these agreements will enable Uzbekistan to boost the exports of gas to 20 billion cubic meters by 2012.

Uzbekistan is Russia’s fourth largest CIS partner by trade volume. Russia accounts for 26.2% in Uzbekistan’s trade turnover. In 2006, trade turnover between the two countries made up some US$3 billion dollars, up 42% compared with 2005.

More than 300 companies with Russian stakes are registered in Uzbekistan. These include 40 enterprises wholly owned by Russians.