External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj today met her Uzbek counterpart Abdulaziz Kamilov, as the two sides agreed to intensify bilateral relations in a range of areas.

The Kamilov-led delegation, which arrived in New Delhi on August 20 on a four-day visit, comprises Elyor Ganiev, Minister for Foreign Trade of Uzbekistan and senior officials and business representatives from diverse areas spanning health, pharmaceuticals, silk, food processing, tourism and leather, the Ministry of External Affairs said.

“Continuing engagements with Central Asia! EAM @SushmaSwaraj meets Abdulaziz Kamilov, Foreign Minister of the Republic of Uzbekistan,” Raveesh Kumar, external affairs ministry spokesperson, tweeted.

“The wide ranging interactions afforded the two sides to review entire gamut of bilateral relations and to decide on a road-map to take the relations to a new level. The two sides agreed to intensify bilateral relations in all areas and open a new page based on comprehensive and wide agenda,” a statement said.

During his visit, Kamilov called on Vice President Venkaiah Naidu and interacted with Minister of State for External Affairs M J Akbar, besides having many other engagements. The members of the delegation are having their own detailed programmes in their respective areas.

This year, the two sides are celebrating 25 years of establishment of diplomatic relations.

The visit of the delegation is taking place following the recent discussions between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev in Astana on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Heads of States meeting in June.

Both leaders had decided to further strengthen and expand bilateral cooperation in all areas, particularly trade and economy.

The ties between the two countries were elevated to the level of Strategic Partnership during the visit of late Uzbek President Islam Karimov in 2011.