Uzbekistan, 25th anniversary | Page 15

Cooperation with Belgium 20 years since the first visit of President Islam Karimov of the Republic of Uzbekistan to the Kingdom of Belgium. President Islam Karimov and His Majesty Albert II The official visit of the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan Islam Karimov to Belgium in November, 1996 became the most important stage in development of bilateral cooperation between Uzbekistan and Belgium. During his visit, President Islam Karimov was warmly and friendly received by Belgian officials. The President met with His Majesty Albert II, King of Belgians, Prime-minister Jean-Luc Dehane, Minister of Foreign Affairs Luis Michele, and also with heads of the leading Belgian companies. Belgian Prime-minister Jean-Luc Dehane visited Uzbekistan in April 1998 and a permanent dialogue between Uzbekistan and Belgium was created. The Belgian Minister Didier Reynders came to Uzbekistan in November 2002 and met with Islam Karimov. Minister of Foreign Affairs A.Kamilov and Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Foreign Affairs and European Affairs of Belgium D.Reynders In September 2010 Prime Minister of Belgium Yves Leterme met with President Islam Karimov in framework the High Level Meeting on the Millennium Development Goals in New York. It is also established a regular political dialogue between the foreign ministries of two countries through holding relevant consultations. So far it has been held four rounds of political consultations (December 2005, October 2009, November 2010 and September 2012). The cooperation between the parliaments of Uzbekistan and Belgium is consecutively developing by exchanging delegation in different levels. The visit of Siegfried Bracke, Chairman of the Belgian Chamber of Representatives to Uzbekistan on 12 -17 September 2015 was an important step toward the development of bilateral parliamentary. From 2006 the groups of interparliamentary cooperation in the parliaments of the two countries are functioning. Minister of Foreign Affairs A.Kamilov and President of the Belgian House of Representatives S.Bracke Established close cooperation between different regions and cities of Uzbekistan and Belgium. In 2000 on the 10th anniversary of the establishment of twin-sister relations between Tashkent and Kortrijk, a statue of the great thinker, philosopher and doctor Abu Ali Ibn Sino (Avicenna) was erected in one of the central squares of Kortrijk. The Agreement on establishing of partnership relations between Samarkand and Liege was signed in January 2005. Belgium is one of the top 20 trade partners of Uzbekistan. Bilateral trade between Uzbekistan and Belgium in 2015 is amounted to 50.2 mln. euro. In autumn 2014, governor of West Flanders Carl Decaluwé visited Uzbekistan with heads of leading Flemish companies where they had constructive talks with representatives of business circles of Uzbekistan. 15