President of the Republic of Uzbekistan Islam Karimov received credentials from the newly appointed Head of the European Union Delegation in Uzbekistan, Ambassador Norbert Jousten.

Uzbekistan has attached prominent importance to the expansion of mutually advantageous and constructive cooperation with the EU, an entity that plays a significant role in global and regional politics and wields remarkable economic and scientific-technical potential.

At the start of conversation, Islam Karimov congratulated the ambassador with a high appointment and wished success in his honorable and responsible mission.

In June 1996, Uzbekistan and the EU signed the Partnership and Cooperation Agreement in Florence at the level of heads of state and government, a document that laid a foundation for a comprehensive consolidation of our relations with a unified Europe.

The January 2011 highest-level bilateral talks in Brussels and the ensuing documents have afforded a new impetus to the multilayered dialogue between Uzbekistan and the European Union.

Apparent is the two sides’ willingness to enhance trade and economic interaction. More than 840 enterprises with input from European investors are operating in our country on an equally gainful basis, while representative offices of some 270 leading companies from the EU have been accredited. The overall volume of Uzbekistan’s trade with EU nations in 2011 grew by nearly twenty percent, to exceed 2.3 billion US dollars.

Uzbekistan has been supportive of schemes and programs within the EU Strategy for Central Asia. Joint actions have targeted economic, cultural and humanitarian realms, security sphere, environment and water resources management, issues pertinent to democratization and the rule of law, building civil society and securing human rights and freedoms.

During today’s occasion at the Oqsaroy, Norbert Jousten expressed gratitude to President of Uzbekistan for a warm reception and assured of his willingness as the first Head of EU Delegation in our country to make every effort for the advancement of mutually rewarding cooperation between the two sides, UzA informs.