Uzbekistan’s President receives Chinese foreign minister Wang Yi 1
Meeting with Chinese Foreign Minister 1
Meeting with Foreign Minister of Tajikistan. 2
Assets of non-bank credit organizations reach 123.7 billion soums. 2
Khorezm region implements 194 project with investments exceeding 12 billion soums. 2
PRESIDENCY OF UZBEKISTAN IN THE SHANGHAI COOPERATION ORGANIZATION (2015-2016) 3
POLItiCs
Uzbekistan’s President receives Chinese foreign minister Wang Yi
President of the Republic of Uzbekistan Islam Karimov received Minister of foreign affairs of the People’s Republic of China Wang Yi, who is on an official visit to our country, at the Oqsaroy on 23 May.
The head of our state, warmly greeting the guest, underlined that sustainable and trustworthy relations, developed between our countries practically in all areas of cooperation, are highly appraised in Uzbekistan.
A regular and systemic dialogue at the highest level has a particular significance. It has become the most essential factor in determining priorities and prospects of strategic partnership, based on the long-term interests of Uzbekistan and China.
As was underscored at the meeting, the forthcoming state visit of President of the People’s Republic of China Xi Jinping should become an important chapter in further developing bilateral relations.
Uzbekistan and China have amassed significant positive experience of mutually beneficial and prolific cooperation. In 2015 the volume of bilateral trade reached 4,1 bln. US dollars. The Chinese investments into the economy of Uzbekistan exceed 6,5 bln. US dollars. 651 enterprises with Chinese capital operate in our country, a number of significant joint projects have been implemented.
Business circles of the two countries have already started joint implementation of such large projects as the construction of tyre and conveyor belt manufacturing plant in the “Angren” special industrial zone and polyvinylchloride, caustic soda and methanol production complex at the Navoiazot JSC and others.
Our countries progressively expand cooperation in the spheres of education, science and technologies, healthcare and culture, which are based on centuries-long historical ties between Uzbekistan and China.
The parties also exchanged views on the issues of Chinese participation in the upcoming events within the Uzbekistan’s presidency in the Shanghai Cooperation Organization and other issues on the Uzbek-Chinese agenda.
It was noted that the forthcoming SCO summit in Tashkent, with the heads of observer states and international organizations also in attendance, would be an important political event, during which key decisions, aimed at further improving the activity of the organization in different areas, will be taken.
The guest has expressed sincere gratitude to the President of our country for a warm reception and the opportunity to discuss topical issues of bilateral cooperation, regional and international problems of mutual interest in detail.
(Source: UzA)
International cooperation
Meeting with Chinese Foreign Minister
On May 23, 2016, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Uzbekistan Abdulaziz Kamilov met with the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the People’s Republic of China Wang Yi, who arrived in Uzbekistan with an official visit.
During the conversation the sides exchanged views on topical issues of bilateral relations and prospects of their development.
Ministers discussed the draft program and agenda of the upcoming Uzbek-Chinese contacts at the highest level.
The parties confirmed their interest in the fruitful outcomes of Uzbekistan’s presidency in the Shanghai Cooperation Organization in 2015-2016 and in successfully holding the jubilee Summit in Tashkent. The meeting of Foreign Ministers of the SCO Member States, which is being opened, should be an important step in preparation for the Summit.
Some international and regional issues were also discussed at the meeting.
The Ambassador of China Sun Lijie attended the talks.
(Source: Press Service of the MFA of the Republic of Uzbekistan)
Meeting with Foreign Minister of Tajikistan
On May 23, 2016, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Uzbekistan Abdulaziz Kamilov met with the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Tajikistan Sirodjidin Aslov, who arrived in Tashkent to attend the next meeting of the Foreign Ministers of the Member States of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization.
The Ministers discussed the state and prospects of bilateral relations and exchanged views on some international and regional issues.
During the conversation special attention was paid to the issues of the agenda of the Council of Foreign Ministers and other events within the presidency of Uzbekistan in the organization.
(Source: Press Service of the MFA of the Republic of Uzbekistan)
economy
Assets of non-bank credit organizations reach 123.7 billion soums
According to the Central Bank of Uzbekistan, as on April 1, 2016, there were 28 microcredit organizations and 45 pawnshops operating throughout the country.
Total assets of non-bank credit organizations (NCOs) amounted to over 123.7 billion soums (currency rates of CB RU from 24.05.2016, 1$= 2919.35 soums), which is 46% more than in the same period last year.
The remainder of the loan portfolio non-bank credit institutions increased over the year by 50% and exceeded a total of 109.2 billion soums. Their aggregate capital grew by 41% and reached 90.5 billion soums.
Non-bank credit organization are not entitled to accept deposits and provide microfinance services advantageously at their own expense.
investments
Khorezm region implements 194 project with investments exceeding 12 billion soums
“Investments – the factor of competition” – this was the theme of the forum held in Khorezm region by the State Committee of the Republic of Uzbekistan for privatization, demonopolization and development of competition.
The forum participants talked on the main factors of increasing the competitiveness of the region, the strategy of socio-economic development of the region, the state of industry and prospects of its development.
The event also saw the discussion of the projects included in the Territorial program on competition development in Khorezm region for 2016-2017, and directions for their implementation.
– The first Territorial direction of the program on competition development in Khorezm region for 2016-2017 is to identify the competitive advantages of the region. It is appropriate to mention the existence of unused capacity and available resources. Accordingly, it will be determined what products the region has to offer for sale on the domestic market. The second direction of the program involves the creation of small industrial zones with available preferential conditions for small, compact production. And the third direction involves the offer to potential investors of state assets at zero redemption value, – said the head of the State Committee of the Republic of Uzbekistan for privatization, demonopolization and development of competition Ulugbek Kamaletdinov.
Within the two-year territorial program, it is planned to implement 194 projects with investments to be drawn exceeding 12 billion soums (currency rates of CB RU from 24.05.2016, 1$= 2919.35 soums). This, in turn, will create more than 1,000 new jobs.
The Forum also provided detailed information about established in our country opportunities for entrepreneurs, the benefits provided by the government for the development of competition.
(Source: UzReport.uz)
PRESIDENCY OF UZBEKISTAN IN THE SHANGHAI COOPERATION ORGANIZATION (2015-2016)
On meeting of SCO CNC
On May 20-24 Tashkent hosted a regular meeting of the Council of National Coordinators of SCO Member States.
Representatives of China, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan discussed the practical issues related to the regular meeting of the Council of the Foreign Ministers of the SCO Member States on 23-24 May 2016 and the jubilee SCO Summit.
The participants also discussed the progress of preparations for the in Tashkent Meeting of Ministers of Culture, meetings of the Council of Interbank Association and the Board of the SCO Business Council.
(Source: Press Service of the MFA of the Republic of Uzbekistan)
EDUCATION
Universities in New Format
Not much is left before the beginning of enrollment exams to the higher educational institutions. This was reminded by the next transformations carried out within the system of the leading universities of the country.
Changes are linked not only with the structure of the higher educational institutions, but also with the scientific systems of the Academy of Sciences. All efforts are focused on the improvement of the system of training specialists with university education in compliance with the demand of the times. Available resources are concentrated on the achievement of this target. Four establishments within the structure of the Academy of Sciences have been turned over for consolidation of the material and technical basis of the educational system. Integration of education, science and production make up one of the priority directions in raising the level of personnel training – science will have to advance within the system of higher education. On the one hand, it promotes the motivation of the training process participants and their ability to manage the emerging situations, since science is called upon to solve the most pressing issues of society’s development; while, on the other hand – to train specialists capable to resolve those urgent tasks. This is the way the world is progressing, and this is the way for us to follow.
Plus a New University
A new Tashkent State University of the Uzbek language and literature named after Alisher Navoi has been set up recently. The faculties of the Uzbek philology of the National University and that of the Uzbek language and literature of the Tashkent State Pedagogical University, the Institute of Language and Literature under the Academy of Sciences and the State Museum of Literature served the basis for its establishment.
The decision matured since long time ago. A system of education has been developing for everyone to be able to get education in their native language. Currently training is conducted in seven languages. The system of teaching foreign languages has also been improved so that it was easier to communicate with foreign partners. And now – a decision was taken on the further development of the Uzbek language. It will facilitate the unification of specialists’ efforts working at the major training and research centers of the country.
The new University will become the basic higher educational institution in training specialists-philologists, scientific-pedagogical personnel, highly qualified translators, and re-training and raising the qualification level of specialists working in this field and further developing the training-methodological materials in the Uzbek language and literature.
Three faculties will be set up within the structure of the University: the Uzbek philology, teaching of the Uzbek language and literature and the Uzbek-English translations. Its structure will also include the Scientific Research Institute for the Uzbek Language and Literature set up on the basis of the Institute of Language and Literature and the Museum of the Uzbek Language and Literature, which will be transformed into the State Museum of Literature.
At the Major University of the Country
The new structure of the National University of Uzbekistan has been approved. There is no faculty of the Uzbek philology within its structure anymore; the mechanical-mathematical faculty has been turned into a mathematical department, and that of philosophy – into social sciences. The physics department has been expanded.
The University’s renewed structure now includes the faculties of geology, geography, physics, biology, chemistry, mathematics, foreign philology, economics, social sciences and journalism.
Large-scale transformations have been accomplished at the faculty of physics. It will become a legal successor of the eliminated Scientific-research Institute of applied physics under the National University and the abolished Institute of Nuclear Physics under the Academy of Sciences.
The main facilities of the Institute of Nuclear Physics under the Academy of Sciences of Uzbekistan will be turned over to the faculty of physics. In 2016-2017 they will be reconstructed and accommodate the specialized chairs, laboratories and departments of magistracy and doctoral studies. It has also been planned to set up on their basis the modern infrastructure for conducting international scientific conferences and workshops, including an administrative building with a conference hall accommodating 200 participants, and another building with a hall for 600 seats in place of the former House of culture, as well as a hotel type dormitory for 30 cots for invited researchers.
Technologies Differ
Also was transformed the structure of the Tashkent State Technical University. Two new faculties have been set up and three faculties have been transformed.
The University’s new structure includes the faculty of machine-building technologies, the faculty of engineering geology and mining, power-energy faculty and two new faculties – engineering systems and engineering physics. The faculties of oil and gas and aviation have been eliminated now from the new structure of the University.
The previous edition of Uzbekistan Today had already told the story of the oil and gas faculty. The Tashkent branch of the Russian State University of oil and gas named after Gubkin will be engaged in training specialists in this direction.
The aviation faculty has also been abolished in the renovated structure of the University. However, according the University’s office of the rector, the University will remain the major training center for national aviation. The students of the abolished faculty will be able to complete their education according to their chosen directions and specialities. The University will further continue to train personnel for aviation, but in compliance with the needs of the real sector of economy, this will be done at other faculties of the University. In particular, major load will fall on the faculty of machine-building technologies.
Also cancelled is the faculty of economics and management. This is linked with the fact that the University will focus its activity on training personnel in engineering-technical specialities.
(Source: «Uzbekistan Today» newspaper)
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