Malaysian Ambassador to Uzbekistan Abdul Aziz Harun, who made the call, said tin Tashkent was “room” for more airlines to provide direct air services from South-East Asia to Tashkent to complement Uzbek Air’s services.

“Tashkent can be made a hub for air services. In fact, the airline can fly in Muslim pilgrims to visit important historical places such as Samarkhand and Bukhara and also to perform the haj in Saudi Arabia,” he told Malaysian journalists in Tashkent. Uzbek Air has been flying to Kuala Lumpur twice weekly since 1996.

Prime Minister of Malaysia Datuk Seri Abdul-lah Ahmad Badawi arrived in Tashkent yesterday to begin a three-day official visit.

Abdul Aziz said many Russian, Kazakh, Ukrainian and Kyrgyz nationals had visited Kuala Lumpur since the Uzbek Air service was launched.

Tourism Malaysia data showed that 18,421 Russians, 4,992 Uzbeks, 3,817 Kazakhs and 2,717 Ukrainians visited Malaysia in the first nine months of the year.

“The direct link will also bring in many business opportunities to the peoples of both countries.

“It would be good if the Transport Ministry could look into this as AirAsia has spread its wings to many other parts of the world,” the envoy said.

On Abdullah’s visit, Abdul Aziz said the Prime Minister would witness the signing of three MoUs between representatives of both countries.

The agreements are to enhance cooperation in the fields of science and technology, collaboration between institutions of higher learning and exploration of oil and gas in Uzbekistan between Petronas and the republic’s national oil and gas company, Uzbekneftegaz.

Abdul Aziz said Kuala Lumpur would also continue providing assistance to the Uzbek government in the field of administration.

“The Uzbek government had in 1997 introduced a 12-year plan to give special focus to their human resources development,’’ he added.