Uzbek TV
October 28

On Sunday President Islam Karimov of Uzbekistan left for Hungary at the invitation of Hungarian President Ferenc Madl. During the official visit it is planned to discuss the state of and prospects for development of bilateral relations, international problems of mutual interest and the signing of a series of important agreements.

Hungary is considered today to be one of the speedily developing countries of Eastern Europe and is integrating further into the EU. It is also a fully-fledged member of NATO.

All-round cooperation of Uzbekistan with that country is obtaining a new basis today. President Islam Karimov of Uzbekistan arrived in Hungary on an official visit on 27 October. At the airport in Budapest the leader of Uzbekistan and his wife were met by members of the Hungarian government. Then the presidential convoy went to the Hungarian government residence.

The major events took place on the second day of the visit, 28 October. The official reception ceremony of Uzbek President Karimov took place in the main square of the Hungarian capital. The national anthems of the two countries were played. Then, accompanied by Hungarian President Ferenc Madl, Islam Karimov met the guard of honour. It must be said that the parliament building is located not far from the square, on the banks of the Danube. President Madl told the Uzbek leader about the history of the Hungarian parliament building and its historical importance.

Then the two presidents had a one-to-one meting during which Islam Karimov and Ferenc Madl discussed prospects for all-round cooperation. These questions were considered in detail at expanded-format talks. Special attention was paid to the prospects for interaction in the sphere of attracting investments, use of a trans-continental highway, cooperation in producing agricultural and food products, the joint fight against organized crime and manifestation of terrorism.

At the end of the talks bilateral documents were signed. An agreement on mutual encouragement and protection of investments, and international automobile transportation of passengers and cargo between the governments of the Republic of Uzbekistan and the Republic of Hungary were signed. The heads of agricultural departments of the two countries signed an agreement on cooperation in the sphere of agriculture and production of food products. The Interior Ministries signed a cooperation agreement on the fight against crime.

After the signing ceremony the heads of the two countries gave an interview to media representatives.

In the second half of the day the Uzbek president visited Heroes Square in the centre of Budapest and laid flowers at the monument to Hungarian Heroes and paid tribute to their memory.

Then the Uzbek president met the leader of the Hungarian parliament, Ms Katalin Szili. They discussed the prospects for establishing inter-parliamentary relations and exchanging experience in lawmaking activities.

On the evening of the same day a reception of the Uzbek president on behalf of the Hungarian president was held.

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