Rustam Minnikhanov, Rais of Russia’s Republic of Tatarstan, met on Thursday with a delegation from Uzbekistan led by Deputy Foreign Minister Olimjon Abdullaev to discuss expanding trade and cultural cooperation. The meeting took place at the Tatarstan Government House in Kazan.
Minnikhanov thanked the Uzbek leadership for their continued focus on building strong ties with Tatarstan, calling Uzbekistan a key partner in strengthening Russia–Uzbekistan relations.
“In recent years, our contacts have grown significantly. Last year, bilateral trade topped $376 million, and there is plenty of potential to expand both the volume and range of goods and services we exchange,” he noted. Minnikhanov also pointed to the work of Tatarstan’s representative office in Uzbekistan, the Uzbek Consulate General in Kazan, and direct flights linking Kazan with Tashkent, Samarkand, and Fergana as signs of growing ties.
Major Tatarstan companies are already active in Uzbekistan: KAMAZ supplies trucks and operates a local service center and assembly line, while technology parks in Chirchik and Jizzakh have been launched with Tatarstan’s participation. Other joint projects include the Kazan Federal University branch and a simulation medicine center in Jizzakh, as well as plans for industrial zones in Bukhara and Navoi.
Minnikhanov also underscored the role of cultural and educational ties, noting that over 2,700 Uzbek students are currently enrolled in Tatarstan universities, and that Tatarstan’s Uzbek cultural autonomy and the annual Sabantuy festival in Tashkent help strengthen community bonds. “We are grateful for the support given to the Tatar diaspora in Uzbekistan, which numbers more than 300,000,” he added.
Abdullaev, in turn, thanked his hosts for their warm welcome: “We’re pleased to have this opportunity for open and constructive dialogue with our Tatarstan colleagues. We feel very much at home here — a reflection of the trust, respect, and strong cooperation between us. It’s an honor to visit Kazan, a city with a rich history, a vibrant economy, and unique culture,” he said.
The two sides discussed further cooperation in trade, machine building, petrochemicals, advanced technology, and humanitarian fields.
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Photo: official website of the Rais RT
Based on materials from the Press Service of the Rais RT