Interview with Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Ambassador of Malaysia in Uzbekistan, Mr. Abdul Aziz Bin Harun

- Mr. Ambassador, how do you assess the cooperation between our countries?
- Bilateral diplomatic relations were established in 1992. Since 1993, in Tashkent operates Malaysian Embassy. Between our countries consistently develops cooperation in political, economic, trade, investment, cultural and humanitarian spheres. It is based on friendship, mutual respect, trust and commitment.

In strengthening our relationships several important agreements reached during meetings of heads of two states. In particular, the state visit of King of Malaysia, Mr. Tuanku Sirajuddin Saiyyed Dzhamalullayla in 2003 and Uzbekistan President, Islam Karimov in 2005 in Malaysia, raised mutual relations to a qualitatively new level. Greater impetus to the development of our relationship gave an official visit Prime Minister of Malaysia, Abdullah Bin Haji Ahmad Badawi of Uzbekistan in November 2008. During these visits many documents, agreements that help to further strengthen the legal basis of bilateral relations and to reveal new facets of cooperation were signed.

In addition, among the several of Ministries and Departments of the two countries have been established constant partnerships (collaboration).

- During the recent years, there are developed the partnership between Uzbekistan and Malaysia in different areas. What, in your opinion, are the prospects for their development?
- Our countries have a lot of common sites. There are also similar in spirituality, traditions and values of our peoples. The size of territory and number of population in Uzbekistan and Malaysia are virtually identical. Both countries are multinational.

There are dynamically developing cooperation in the sphere of economy, investment, oil and gas, education and tourism between Malaysia and Uzbekistan. It should be noted that a favorable investment conditions created in Uzbekistan for foreign investors, raises the interest of Malaysian businessmen. According to the investment, a number of projects are implementing in cooperation with the Malaysian "Petronas". Malaysia Government highly appreciates.

Tourism is one of the promising directions of Uzbek-Malaysian cooperation. The both countries have a huge potential in this area. Establishment of direct flights between Tashkent and Kuala Lumpur helps to increase the flow of tourists in Uzbekistan and in Malaysia.

Malaysian businessmen are interested in implementing of many investment projects in Uzbekistan. We believe that the consistent development of cooperation, which is based on the principles of the traditional friendship, will be strengthened in the future.

I hope that the relationship in trade, economic and investment sphere, also in the culture, science, education and tourism aspects will be further strengthening by our countries.