President of the Republic of Uzbekistan Islam Karimov paid an official visit to the Russian Federation on April 14-15 at the invitation of President Vladimir Putin.

The political dialogue at the highest level has been regular in the relations between Uzbekistan and Russia. In April 2010, President Islam Karimov traveled to Moscow on an official visit. In his turn, Vladimir Putin was in Tashkent in June 2012, also on official visit, which produced, among other documents, the Declaration on the Enhancement of Strategic Partnership between the Republic of Uzbekistan and the Russian Federation.

President of the Republic of Uzbekistan Islam Karimov visited December 5 Turkmenistan’s Ashgabat to take part in the regular session of Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) Council of the Heads of State.

Prior to the summit, the presidents of Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan held a conversation. In a friendly environment underpinned by the spirit of mutual confidence and openness, Islam Karimov and Gurbanguly Berdymuhamedov discussed the current state and prospects of Uzbek-Turkmen relations and the cooperation of our two countries within the CIS.

Later, the session of CIS Council of the Heads of State addressed a range of draft documents designed to enhance regional cooperation in economic and humanitarian spheres and that in security issues.

President of the Republic of Uzbekistan Islam Karimov paid an official visit to the Republic of Azerbaijan on October 11-12.

Not only the traditional hospitality, which the ancient land of Azerbaijan is famed for, but also a special sense of warmth, friendship and respect for our country was felt right from the very first minutes of the Uzbek delegation’s stay in Azerbaijan.

The relations between our two nations are not subject to the shifting political situation in international affairs, and rather are embedded in deep historical roots, in the community and similarity of national traditions, customs, language, culture and religion, with clearly designated guidelines. The latest history of our friendly ties is rich with examples when – at various levels – we earnestly extended our hand of help and support to each other.

President Islam Karimov’s official visit to Azerbaijan was primarily dedicated to bolstering the friendly bonds between our two countries, to implementing the deals reached earlier, to singling out prospective priorities in the evolution of bilateral cooperation.

President of the Republic of Uzbekistan Islam Karimov paid an official visit to Turkmenistan on October 1-2, at the invitation of President Gurbanguly Berdymuhamedov.

Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan have always been tied with historical and close bonds of friendship, the solidarity of cultural and spiritual values, the proximity of languages, traditions and customs.

During the thoroughgoing talks between Islam Karimov and Gurbanguly Berdymuhamedov held in a candid and confidential atmosphere, the sides have confirmed the community of interests and the availability of solid political will to comprehensively enhance the multilayered bilateral interaction. The parties noted also the immediacy and concurrence of positions and approaches to all the discussed current international and region issues.

President of the Republic of Uzbekistan Islam Karimov traveled to the Republic of Korea with a state visit September 19-21 at the invitation of President Lee Myung-Bak.

In a sign of deep respect for the President of Uzbekistan, for Islam Karimov’s outstanding leadership qualities and his remarkable contribution to the promotion and consolidation of Uzbek-South Korean relations, the current trip has been granted the status of state visit on the initiative of the South Korean leader.

The state visit by President of the Republic of Uzbekistan to the Republic of Korea has opened a new page in the history of Uzbek-South Korean relations.

As it was noted during the meetings, the agreements reached and the documents signed are fully in sync with the longer-run interests of our two peoples and will facilitate the effective realization of the existing rich potential of cooperation. The two sides have reiterated their willingness to augment the strategic partnership, advance political dialogue and step up interaction in all areas for mutual benefit.

On the invitation of President Nursultan Nazarbaev, President Islam Karimov traveled to Kazakhstan on September 6-7 with an official visit.

The official ceremony of meeting the high-ranking guest took place at the Akorda Palace of Kazakhstan’s President. A guard of honor had lined up to meet the President of Uzbekistan. The leaders of our two countries rose to the podium, and paid tribute to state anthems of Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan. Then, Islam Karimov and Nursultan Nazarbaev walked along the guard of honor.

During the talks in contracted and extended formats, the heads of state discussed in detail the key issues in the development of Uzbekistan-Kazakhstan relations, the current state of affairs in Central Asia and around it, along with pressing international issues of shared interest.

President of the Republic of Uzbekistan Islam Karimov paid an official visit to the People’s Republic of China on June 5-7.

During his stay in the PRC, the leader of Uzbekistan also partook in the twelfth session of Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Council of the Heads of State.

The Uzbek-Chinese dialogue at the highest level had exceptional priority during President Karimov’s trip to China.

Following an official meeting ceremony characterized by the play of state anthems and performance of military tribute by the guard of honor, the head of our state met with the Chinese President Hu Jintao.

President of the Republic of Uzbekistan Islam Karimov partook in the jubilee session of the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) and informal meeting of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) in Moscow on May 15.

The CSTO Collective Security Council session started in the Kremlin with a meeting of heads of state in restricted format, followed by one that included wider delegations escorting the leaders of member nations.

The session has been timed to the twentieth anniversary of Tashkent Collective Security Treaty and the tenth birth date of the Organization.

The CSTO affiliate countries have endured a taxing path throughout this past period in shaping a collective security system. They have hoarded a sufficient experience for practical interaction in addressing a broad range of issues in the post-Soviet space.

President of the Republic of Uzbekistan Islam Karimov attended summits of Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) and Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) in the city of Moscow December 20.

Regular session of CSTO Collective Security Council in the Kremlin began with a meeting of heads of state in contracted format, followed by an extended convention.

President of Uzbekistan expounded during his speech on issues regarded by the Uzbek side as of fundamental significance.

Signed in 1992, the Treaty has duly been fulfilling its principal function as an instrument to secure sovereignty of nations party to it. The efforts undertaken by the CSTO in consolidating the Organization and its adaptation to contemporary geopolitical configuration have helped boost military-political interaction and start shaping an effective system of collective security, counter new threats and address challenges.

President of Uzbekistan Islam Karimov paid a state visit to the Republic of India on May 17-18, 2011.

The Indian side suggested the visit be attached state status, the highest in international practice.

Obvious as it is, that decision involved consideration of the high level of bilateral partnership as much as the ancient roots of the enduring comprehensive friendly relations between Uzbek and Indian people.

In Uzbekistan, India is renowned as a country with a distinctive history, one with which the Uzbek people have been tied with long-standing robust cultural and trade bonds, and, crucially, with earnest friendship.

A lot in the history, literature, music, fine arts and architecture of the two peoples, their reciprocal enrichment is associated with the name of our great ancestor Zahiriddin Muhammad Bobur.