In particular, the meeting will focus on the readiness of the documents that have to be signed in Tashkent on 22-23 January, he said.

Ivanov said that in January-October 2008 bilateral trade increased by 9% to US$2.842 billion as against the same period of 2007. "Over the past month the growth has also been registered," he said.

Deputy Prime Minister stressed the need "for accelerating work aimed at strengthening bilateral ties." "We have broad opportunities for this. This concerns not only traditional cooperation in the fuel and energy sector, but also in such areas as aircraft-building, space exploration and military cooperation."

"A special theme is further growth of mutual trade and investments and the creation of favourable conditions for the operation of Russian businesses in Uzbekistan and Uzbek businesses - in Russia," he said.