The talks lasted for more than three hours. Mr Putin and Mr Karimov discussed bilateral relations, Russian-Uzbek cooperation in the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation and the Commonwealth of Independent States and the anti-terrorist alliance. They exchanged opinions on the situation in Iraq, Afghanistan and other problem-laden areas.
Cooperation in the gas sphere was also a prominent item on the agenda.
The negotiators came to an agreement to renew the membership of the bilateral intergovernmental commission. Prime Minister Utkir Sultanov was to head it on the Uzbek side, and Deputy Prime Minister Boris Aleshin on the Russian side.
While he was addressing journalists after the talks, Mr Putin said that Russia was willing to import Uzbek cotton bypassing intermediate parties and sub-purchasers.
Among the top priorities of Russian-Uzbek partnership, Mr Putin mentioned light industry, military-technical cooperation and everything that had a bearing on military technologies. He said closer partnership in the power engineering industry was necessary.
He spoke about his preceding visit to Malaysia on the journalists’ request, and highly assessed its achievements.
Mr Putin said that Russia regarded Malaysia as a base to promote its economic interests in the Asia-Pacific region.
The President said he was highly satisfied with the results of his official visit.