Serbia, Uzbekistan eye free trade and direct Belgrade-Tashkent flights

Uzbekistan will participate in EXPO 2027 in Belgrade with its own national pavilion and an extensive cultural program, Uzbek President Shafkat Mirziyoyev said.

According to Report's Balkan bureau, he made the remarks during a meeting with his Serbian counterpart Aleksandar Vučić at the Palace of Serbia.

Mirziyoyev said he was confident that his visit, as the first by an Uzbek president to Serbia in the country's history, would give new impetus and quality to relations between the two countries.

"The very fact that almost the entire Serbian government represented here is sitting around the table during these negotiations has symbolic significance. My team informed me that the talks are being held at the highest level and that very important and productive meetings have taken place," he said.

Mirziyoyev also commented on Serbia's policy regarding relations in the region.

"I am confident that your leadership and integration policy in the Western Balkans will strengthen peace, stability and sustainability in the region and put it on the path to prosperity," he said.

Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić, in turn, said Serbia and Uzbekistan should establish a free trade regime and launch a direct Belgrade-Tashkent flight as soon as possible.

Speaking at a meeting of the Serbian and Uzbek delegations, he said the two countries could develop cooperation in all areas of public life.

Vučić said Uzbekistan had reached remarkable heights under Mirziyoyev's leadership.

"We admire your achievements and want to work and cooperate with your beautiful country," he said.

Vučić expressed hope that the two countries would continue developing good relations. He said the sides should expand industrial cooperation, with a focus on the textile sector, followed by agriculture, advanced technologies, digital transformation, artificial intelligence, transport connectivity, logistics and the defense industry.