On establishment of expanded cooperation between the Government of the Republic of Uzbekistan and the Government of the Czech Republic

10.10.2023

Joint Declaration

On establishment of expanded cooperation between

[It was registered in the state register by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Uzbekistan on November 14, 2023 with order number 4532-FR-2023-H]

The Government of the Republic of Uzbekistan and the Government of the Czech Republic (hereinafter referred to as “the Sides”),

Noting with great satisfaction the substantial political, economic and cultural ties, which have had been developed in more than three decades;

Reaffirming the strong commitment to principles set forth in the Charter of the United Nations, as well as to the values of democracy, rule of law, human rights and fundamental freedoms;

Conscious of their role and responsibility in contributing to international peace, prosperity and sustainable development;

Recognizing, in particular, the importance of continued political dialogue and support for deepening bilateral trade and investment as well as developing and promoting the potential of people-to-people exchanges and sectorial cooperation in various fields of mutual interest;

Taking into account the high outcomes achieved within the framework of the Partnership and Cooperation Agreement between the Republic of Uzbekistan, on the one hand, and the European Communities and their Member States, on the other hand, signed on June 21, 1996, in Florence;

Determined to further expand and strengthen cooperation in fields of mutual interest;

Both Sides agreed to upgrade their bilateral relations to the level of an Enhanced Cooperation and declared as follows:

Political and Security Cooperation

1. The two Sides will intensify their political dialogue aiming at implementing the Enhanced Cooperation.

2. Both Sides will make efforts to hold more regular bilateral exchanges and consultations on issues of mutual interest at senior levels, in particular between the Ministries of Foreign Affairs.

3. The Sides note the importance and role of dialogue, and express their readiness to intensify mutual visits of delegations of the two countries, as well as to encourage further development of bilateral inter-parliamentary relations.

4. The two Sides wish to further advance cooperation in the area of defence, based on the Agreement between the Ministry of Defence of the Republic of Uzbekistan and the Ministry of Defence of the Czech Republic on Cooperation signed in Tashkent on May 21, 2018. They will also explore opportunities offered by the potential of the Government-to-Government cooperation, including in the area of defence industrial cooperation.

5. The Sides wish to consult the actual bilateral treaty base and consider its possible further development.

Economic Cooperation

6. The two Sides are ready to cooperate in promoting the sustainable increase and development of trade and investment to their mutual advantage.

7. Both Sides wish to expand a dialogue between their authorities on trade and investment, related areas of mutual interest, business cooperation and macroeconomic policies and trends. Special role will be played by the Joint Uzbek-Czech Inter-governmental Commission on Economic, Industrial, Scientific and Technical Cooperation established by the Agreement between the Government of the Republic of Uzbekistan and the Government of the Czech Republic on Economic, Industrial, Scientific and Technical Cooperation signed in Tashkent on June 28, 2004.

8. The Sides wish to increase the volume and expanding the range of mutual trade while acknowledging the importance of the GSP+ preferential system that provides opportunities for exports from Uzbekistan to the European Union. The Sides wish also to create conditions for further increase of the supply of equipment and advanced technologies from the Czech Republic to Uzbekistan.

9. Both Sides will contribute to enhancing contacts and mutually beneficial cooperation between relevant ministries and their agencies promoting trade, investments or tourism.

10. Both Sides will further encourage and facilitate investment in each otherʼs territories, including the areas of infrastructure, energy (especially renewables) and agriculture.

11. Both Sides will continue promoting and facilitating joint ventures and increasing contacts between entrepreneurs in various fields with a special focus on small and medium enterprises.

12. The two Sides will support partnership and holding of regular dialogue on cooperation in — inter alia — the sectors of mining and processing of raw materials, energy, industrial cooperation, transport and agriculture.

13. Both Sides will support the development, transfer and dissemination of clean and environmentally sound technologies.

14. While recognizing the strategic importance of the energy sector for their economic and social development, the two Sides wish to initiate cooperation in the area of traditional and renewable energy as well as energy efficiency. The Uzbek Side invites Czech power companies to participate in construction projects of power plants, including in the field of renewable energy sources.

15. Both Sides will continue and broaden their cooperation in the fields of standardization, metrology and testing in conformity with the European Union Standards.

16. Both Sides will encourage, develop and facilitate cooperative activities in the areas of science, innovation and modern technology with a primary focus on direct collaboration of relevant institutions, e.g. the Ministry of Higher Education, Science and Innovation of the Republic of Uzbekistan and the Endowment Fund for Support of Science and the Technology Agency of the Czech Republic. The two Sides also support cooperation in the field of industrial innovations, transfers of technology, know-how or expertise through expanding contacts between companies and universities.

17. Both Sides will focus on opportunities for mutually beneficial cooperation in the medical devices sector and other healthcare disciplines.

18. The two Sides are ready to enhance connectivity between them, including in the areas of transport infrastructure networks, direct flight connections, logistics providers and transport operators, and recognize that there is great potential for cooperation, notably in the context of existing bilateral agreements.

19. The Sides will also promote projects and contracts for joint production and supply of leather, silk products and industrial hemp products.

20. Both Sides wish to establish cooperation on implementation of joint projects on breeding of cattle and small ruminants, as well as in processing of livestock products.

21. The Czech Side expressed readiness to provide comprehensive assistance in the process of Uzbekistanʼs accession to the World Trade Organization (WTO), and also supported the signing of the Enhanced Partnership and Cooperation Agreement between the Republic of Uzbekistan and the European Union.

Cultural, Educational and Tourism Cooperation and People-to-People Exchanges

22. Both Sides will promote cultural cooperation, and people-to-people exchanges between them in order to increase mutual understanding of their respective cultures.

23. Both Sides will seek ways to facilitate the mobility of researchers and students, using the relevant frameworks and instruments established within the context of bilateral, as well as the Republic of Uzbekistan-EU cooperation.

24. The two Sides wish to enhance the exchange of experience and expertise on policies aiming at increasing the quality of education, including the vocational and technical training.

25. Emphasizing the important role of tourism in providing economic benefits, friendship and mutual understanding, both Sides will reinforce their cooperation in the field of tourism, including attraction of high-end technologies and advanced experience of the Czech Republic in tourism education, promoting direct flights between major cities of both countries and enhancing collaboration of tourism business.

26. The two Sides wish to make joint efforts to promote bilateral cooperation in the cultural and creative industries, including film, animation, music, manufacturing of musical instruments, or the organization of exhibitions.

27. Both Sides will continue to foster the already 20-year collaboration between the Uzbek and Czech archaeologists.

28. The two Sides wish to express their interests in initiating discussions on possible cooperation in the field of the youth with the aim of developing friendly ties between young generations of the two countries.

Regional and Global Cooperation

29. Both Sides will keep on contributing actively to regional cooperation between the EU and the Central Asia.

30. The two Sides wish to strengthen cooperation and exchanges of views in international and regional organizations such as the United Nations, OSCE, and other multilateral mechanisms, including in the field of human rights and rule of law, and enhance the possibilities for mutual support for each otherʼs candidatures for international organizations.

31. The two Sides are ready to improve their cooperation on global issues such as water management and climate change.

32. The Sides will further elaborate on the forms and directions of cooperation in each specific area. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Uzbekistan and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Czech Republic will coordinate implementation of this Declaration.

33. This joint Declaration is not an international treaty and consequently does not create rights and obligations under international law.

Adopted in Prague on 10th of October, 2023 in the English language.

(signatures)