Uzbekistan's Foreign Minister Kamilov meets Sushma Swaraj

Uzbekistan's Foreign Minister Abdulaziz Kamilov met his Indian counterpart Sushma Swaraj on Tuesday.

Kamilov, who arrived in India on Sunday, is leading a high level delegation from Uzbekistan including Elyor Ganiev, Minister for Foreign Trade of Uzbekistan, senior representatives from the Uzbekistan Government, and Chairmen and representatives from several Government Associations and Corporations.

Earlier, Kamilov met the heads and experts of the Institute for Defense Studies and Analyses (IDSA) under the Ministry of Defense, Vivekananda International Foundation and Observer Research Foundation of India.

According to media reports, he also met with representatives of academic and cultural circles of India - leading scientists of the Jawaharlal Nehru University, Jamia Millia Islamia University, Unity International Foundation, Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR) under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and activists of the Babur International Public Foundation.

The two sides exchanged views on the issues of expanding and strengthening cultural and humanitarian ties, direct contacts between scientific and educational institutions of Uzbekistan and India, and also considered concrete proposals on expanding cooperation.

The visit is taking place following the recent discussions between Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Uzbekistan President Shavkat Mirziyoyev in Astana on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO).

Both leaders had decided to further strengthen and expand bilateral cooperation in all areas, particularly trade and economic.

He is also scheduled to call on Indian Vice President Venkaiah Naidu.

India and Uzbekistan have close and friendly relations based on centuries of historical and cultural linkages.

"Our relationship was elevated to Strategic Partnership during the visit of late President Islam Karimov in 2011. PM visited Uzbekistan in 2015 and 2016. MOS (MJA) visited Uzbekistan last year to pay respects to late President Karimov. This year we are celebrating 25 years of establishment of diplomatic relations with Uzbekistan. We hope that discussions during the visit of this delegation will help in identifying new areas of cooperation and take our relationship to a higher level," MEA said in a statement.