Uzbekistan and Belgium noted the role of further building up and deepening inter-parliamentary ties in increasing bilateral cooperation on a wide range of issues of mutual interest, the press service of Legislative Chamber Oliy Majlis (parliament) of Uzbekistan reported.
The first online meeting of the Interparliamentary Friendship Group of the Legislative Chamber of the Oliy Majlis of Uzbekistan, headed by First Deputy Speaker of the Legislative Chamber Akmal Saidov, with Belgian parliamentarians, took place. Co-chairman of the parliamentary group Belgium – Uzbekistan Tim Vandenput spoke on behalf of the Belgian parliamentarians.
The keynote of the meeting was the issues of further countering the spread of the coronavirus pandemic. The parties informed each other about the measures being taken in Uzbekistan and Belgium aimed at combating the global threat, as well as the work of parliaments in the conditions of closed borders.
It was noted that for Uzbekistan, the experience of Belgium and the EU countries in countering the pandemic, what structural changes had occurred in health care, the economy and lawmaking were of great interest.
The parties also emphasized the role of parliamentarians, who promptly responded to the challenge, approving legislative norms to contain the consequences of the pandemic.
In addition, the parliamentarians focused on the results achieved in bilateral cooperation, the provision of mutual support within the framework of authoritative international organizations, the establishment and strengthening of mutually beneficial trade, economic, political, legal, cultural and humanitarian ties.
“Uzbekistan hopes for the earliest completion of the negotiation and signing of an extended partnership and cooperation agreement with the EU and support of the Belgian parliament in its ratification,” the message said.
As a result of the online meeting, the parties came to a common opinion that the further development of the Uzbek-Belgian inter-parliamentary cooperation would go in such areas as the exchange of parliamentary delegations on an ongoing basis, legislative acts, information and analytical materials. (Trend/Business World Magazine)