Seyyed Ebrahim Raisi: “We are ready to include Uzbekistan in the Chabahar Agreement and provide it with access to the North-South Corridor”

President of the Islamic Republic of Iran Seyyed Ebrahim Raisi paid an official visit to Uzbekistan on September 14-16 this year. Issues of further strengthening bilateral relations were discussed at the meeting with the President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev.

18 documents on cooperation in various fields were signed following the high-level talks between Uzbekistan and Iran.

Ebrahim Raisi also took part in the Summit of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, in Samarkand.

A Correspondent of Uzbekistan National News Agency interviewed the President of the Islamic Republic of Iran Seyyed Ebrahim Raisi about a new stage in relations between the two countries and the expected results of the agreements signed within the framework of the SCO Summit.

– Mr. President, what issues do you consider the most relevant in economic, political and cultural relations between the Islamic Republic of Iran and the Republic of Uzbekistan?

– At the beginning of the conversation, I consider it my duty to congratulate the Government and people of Uzbekistan on the 31st Anniversary of the Independence of the Republic of Uzbekistan.

From the first days of Uzbekistan’s independence, the Islamic Republic of Iran has paid special attention to relations with your country. Since the beginning of the thirteenth Government, which was formed after I was elected President of the Islamic Republic of Iran, we have identified the development of multifaceted cooperation with neighboring and close countries, including Uzbekistan, which is our friend and ally, as one of the priority areas of foreign policy and international relations. If we consider this issue from a general perspective, it becomes obvious that the Islamic Republic of Iran does not deviate from its foreign policy and interacts with Central Asian countries to the maximum.

My official visit to the Republic of Uzbekistan took place at the official invitation of my dear brother Shavkat Mirziyoyev, and as a sign of my special respect for his Excellency. Two key countries in the region – the Islamic Republic of Iran and the Republic of Uzbekistan are connected by a common history, culture and civilization, so the development of our relations is inevitable. During my stay in the beautiful city of Samarkand, I became well aware that the common roots between the peoples of our countries are deep, and the great people of Uzbekistan are the main investment of this country. They are good-natured and hardworking people who work tirelessly for the prosperity of the country and the achievement of high goals. The peoples of Iran and Uzbekistan brought up and gave the world of science and literature many great personalities, such as Khorezmi, Abu Ali Ibn Sina. These personalities are undoubtedly the pride of the people of the whole world.

Our countries cooperate in various fields. Delegations of various levels in the political and security spheres are holding meetings. Political consultations are regularly held, and cooperation is carried out in a peaceful settlement of the situation in Afghanistan, neighboring both countries, between law enforcement agencies and organizations responsible for combating organized crime, extremism, terrorism and drug trafficking, as well as ministries of foreign affairs. However, the two countries maintain close ties within regional and international organizations such as the Economic Cooperation Organization, the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, the Organization of Islamic Cooperation and the United Nations.

The trade and economic sphere are one of the most important promising areas in relations between the two countries. A vivid confirmation of this is the growing volume of mutual trade. Uzbekistan has a convenient transit location in the Central Asian region, and the favorable transit opportunities of the Islamic Republic of Iran indicate that the transport and transit sector is one of the important links in trade and economic relations between our countries. The Islamic Republic of Iran has created and provided Uzbekistan with all conditions for the use of Iranian ports, in particular the important Chabahar Port. Tourism is also a key area in relations between our countries. Taking into account the importance of this area and the potential existing in it, officials and entrepreneurs of our countries should make even more efforts to develop relations in this direction.

The common history and culture of the two countries are a favorable basis for mutually beneficial cooperation. Interaction in the restoration of historical monuments, participation in exhibitions and events in culture and art, holding culture weeks, cooperation in cinematography and sports are among the activities carried out or on the agenda of the two countries. At the same time, it is necessary to develop cooperation in the field of student exchange, granting scholarships and interaction between scientific and research institutions. The signing during my visit of several documents in the political, economic and cultural spheres demonstrated the determination of our countries to comprehensively develop mutually beneficial relations.

– The population of the two countries is one hundred and twenty million people. This is a huge market. This means that manufacturing products and the provision of various services are extremely rare opportunities for entrepreneurs in Iran and Uzbekistan. In this sense, what could you say about the future of trade and economic relations between Iran and Uzbekistan?

– As you have rightly noted, Iran and Uzbekistan are among the most densely populated countries in the region. This creates excellent opportunities for developing cooperation in various fields, including the economy. Many agreements and treaties have been signed aimed at enhancing trade and economic relations between the two countries. However, in our opinion, they do not correspond to the existing potential of the two countries. Undoubtedly, both countries have the potential to provide their advantages and positive impact on each other’s economies. For example, huge reserves of energy resources, transport infrastructure, including ports and railways, modern technologies, our achievements in medicine and agriculture can be used by Uzbekistan entrepreneurs. In turn, Iran can take advantage of the opportunities you have.

During the presidency of Shavkat Mirziyoyev, trade and economic relations between our countries have significantly developed, including an increase in the trade turnover, as well as a huge potential in this direction. Undoubtedly, the governments of the two countries should make efforts to remove the existing barriers to the development of relations between the businesspeople of the two countries. Both countries should strive to double the trade turnover in the short term. Iranian companies have great opportunities to enter Uzbekistan and establish production in the country. Joint investments can become one of the convenient ways to strengthen economic ties.

As mentioned above, taking into account the large population, tourism and related industries are other obvious areas that our countries can dramatically develop. It is gratifying that both countries have high-ranking places in the world in terms of tourist attractiveness. We can develop tourism through the implementation of measures to increase the number of mutual flights and the establishment of a visa-free regime.

– The Iranian direction, in particular the transport and transit corridors leading to the Chabahar Port, is the most convenient way for Uzbekistan to access the open sea. Would you please tell us about the work carried out to develop cooperation between the two countries in this direction?

– As noted above, the Islamic Republic of Iran is ready to provide maximum assistance to your country in this matter. From the first days of independence of the Republic of Uzbekistan, we noted that the network of railway, road and sea routes of our country, in particular the ports of Bandar Abbas and Chabahar, can be used by Uzbekistan entrepreneurs to transport goods from Uzbekistan and other countries. In this regard, within the framework of the Ashgabat Agreement, the trilateral agreement between Iran, Uzbekistan and Afghanistan, and several other agreements, attempts were made to create legal, consular and customs conditions for cooperation in this direction.

Following the new programs of the Islamic Republic of Iran, it is planned to create many railway infrastructure facilities in the shortest possible time, which Uzbekistan entrepreneurs can use to establish foreign trade. We are also planning to create the necessary and convenient opportunities for the participation and investment of interested countries in the Chabahar Port. We are ready to include Uzbekistan in the Chabahar Agreement and provide the North-South Corridor. To date, many visits and negotiations have been organized between our countries on this issue. At the same time, the railway and road routes of Uzbekistan are considered convenient for Iranian businessmen to travel to other countries, and we use them within the framework of bilateral, regional and international agreements.

– How do you assess the current position of Uzbekistan in the world community and the foreign policy pursued by our country?

– I assess the approach of the Government of Uzbekistan in regional and international policy as extremely balanced, logical and positive.

The policy of the Republic of Uzbekistan in mutually beneficial cooperation with the countries of the region and the world, the country’s initiatives in international and regional organizations play an important role in strengthening peace and stability in the region.

The meeting of the Council of Heads of State of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization and other meetings organized by the Republic of Uzbekistan deserve high praise. In conclusion, I consider it my duty to express my deep gratitude to our brothers and sisters from Uzbekistan for a worthy reception and hospitality.

– We also express our gratitude to you for taking the time to answer our questions, and for the sincere attitude of the Islamic Republic of Iran towards our people and state. Thank you for the meaningful conversation!

Interviewed by Asliddin Suyunov, UzA