Russia and Uzbekistan to expand energy cooperation - Ushakov

MOSCOW, July 6 /TASS/. Russian President Vladimir Putin and Uzbek President Islam Karimov will meet in Ufa on July 10 to discuss expansion of energy cooperation between Russia and Uzbekistan, presidential aide Yuri Ushakov told journalists. "Expansion of energy cooperation is part of the agenda," he said adding that Russia and Uzbek energy companies were implementing a number of joint energy projects. The two presidents plan to discuss cooperation in education and consider a wide range of issues on development bilateral allied relations and strategic partnership in trade, economic, cultural and humanitarian spheres. "The sides will also exchange views on global and regional issues," Ushakov said. Energy issues will dominate talks between the presidents of Russia and Kazakhstan in Ufa on July 9, Ushakov told journalists. "Special attention will be paid to energy issues. Kazakhstan transport the bulk of oil extracted in its territory via Russia to external markets," Ushakov said adding that Russian and Kazakhstani companies were implementing a number of joint projects. "The sides have made progress in implementing a strategic project for the construction of a Russian model of a nuclear power plant in the city of Kurchatov," Ushakov went on to say. Kremlin also expects that bilateral trade between the two countries will start growing steadily in conditions of the Eurasian Economic Union. Asked to comment whether Ukraine will participate in the SCO summit in Ufa on July 10, Ushakov said that the answer would most likely be "no". "As far as we know, the answer is ‘no’," the presidential aide said. "In 2014, Ukraine applied to join the SCO as a dialogue partner that usually do not attend the organization’s summits," Ushakov explained. Ushakov could not say anything whether Kiev had dropped its plans to join the SCO as a partner. "Apparently, all consultations on this subject are being conducted by the SCO Secretariat. The Ukrainian side is not engaged in any bilateral discussions with us," Putin’s aide said. Read more