Farid Mukhametshin: "The expansion of regional dialogue, including interparliamentary dialogue, will noticeably enrich the partnership between Russia and Uzbekistan."

      Issues of expanding inter-parliamentary cooperation between the Russian Federation and the Republic of Uzbekistan, including interregional ties, economic integration in the supply of agricultural products, and the activation of tourist exchange between the two countries were discussed today at a meeting of the Commission on Cooperation between the Federation Council of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation and the Senate of the Oliy Majlis (the upper chamber of the parliament) of the Republic of Uzbekistan, which took place today at the State Council. Participants in the meeting included Senator of the Russian Federation and co-chair of the Commission Ilyas Umakhanov, First Deputy Chairman of the Senate of the Oliy Majlis of Uzbekistan Sadyk Safaev, and Chairman of the State Council of Tatarstan Farid Mukhametshin.

      Opening the meeting, Ilyas Umakhanov thanked the leadership of Tatarstan for the extensive work carried out to strengthen interregional ties within the framework of the Russian–Uzbek dialogue, noting in particular the role of the republic’s parliament and of Farid Mukhametshin.

      “Chairman of the State Council of Tatarstan Farid Mukhametshin, who also heads the Commission of the Council of Legislators of Russia on International Cooperation Issues, is one of the most authoritative parliamentarians in the country,” Ilyas Umakhanov emphasized. “I would like to thank the republic for the customary warm welcome. Tatarstan is one of the Russian regions that most effectively builds constructive relations with Uzbekistan across all directions. The choice of Tatarstan as the venue for the meeting was to a large extent also the wish of our colleagues from Uzbekistan.”

      Ilyas Umakhanov stressed that in a complex geopolitical environment Russia attaches special importance to strengthening Russian–Uzbek cooperation and strategic partnership.

      “For us Uzbekistan is a close neighbor, a friend proven over the years and a reliable ally,” the senator said. “Over recent years our countries have accumulated a unique experience of equal interaction and dynamic partnership. Above all, this is the merit of the national leaders of our countries, Vladimir Putin and Shavkat Mirziyoyev. Within the framework of state visits a common intention to actively develop full-scale cooperation has been confirmed. A package of agreements in various areas has been signed. The task of parliamentarians is to facilitate the implementation of the decisions adopted by the Presidents, including by providing active legislative support and comprehensive interregional interaction.”

      Welcoming representatives of the upper chambers of the parliaments of Russia and Uzbekistan, Farid Mukhametshin stressed that it is deeply symbolic that the venue for the jubilee 10th meeting of the Commission was chosen to be thousand-year-old Kazan and the parliament of the Republic of Tatarstan.

      “Kazan is one of the oldest cities in Eurasia, destined by fate to become a historical boundary between West and East, a crossroads of civilizations, a place of concentration of cultures and worldviews,” the Chairman of the State Council said. “For us this is a colossal responsibility and a historical event. In Tatarstan we actively support the federal center’s dialogue with partners in the CIS states. We consider it important, in addition to elaborating key political issues, to enrich the discussion with an examination of the wide possibilities for expanding regional dialogue. We are convinced that such an approach will noticeably enrich the partnership between our states.”

      Despite difficult conditions, Farid Mukhametshin said, Tatarstan continues its steady development. Over the past five years the republic has confirmed its status as one of the country’s key development drivers. “By 2025 Tatarstan approached with record macroeconomic indicators; by the main ones the republic retains leading positions: 7th place by gross regional product, 5th by industrial output, 2nd by construction, 3rd by agricultural output, 6th by fixed capital investment, and 7th by retail turnover,” Farid Mukhametshin noted. “Over the past five years the volume of gross regional product has grown by 14.2%. As of the end of 2024 GRP reached a record 5.2 trillion rubles. The population of Tatarstan has exceeded 4 million people.”

      The Chairman of the State Council drew particular attention to the fact that at the heart of the development of all sectors and spheres of the republic remains the combination of traditions and innovations. According to him, the republic implements its successful model of interfaith relations through harmony and unity: 175 nationalities live in Tatarstan, and different religions coexist peacefully.

      “We build this multifaceted work through the activities of the Assembly of the Peoples of Tatarstan, established in 1992,” Farid Mukhametshin said. “Today the Assembly includes 269 national-cultural organizations representing the interests of 39 nationalities. Thanks to the support of municipal authorities, in recent years the network of local national-cultural organizations and houses of friendship of peoples, serving as resource centers of the Assembly, has expanded significantly.”

      According to Farid Mukhametshin, the Uzbek diaspora under the leadership of Abdumanob Abdusatarov makes its contribution to Tatarstan’s constructive development. Nearly 15,000 Uzbeks currently live in the republic. “The Uzbek national-cultural autonomy actively works on integrating compatriots into the socio-cultural environment of Tatarstan while preserving the unique millennia-old heritage of the Uzbek people. Its leader constructively interacts with law enforcement agencies on migration issues and productively coordinates the autonomy’s rich cultural agenda,” the head of parliament noted.

      As Farid Mukhametshin emphasized, Tatarstan is becoming an authoritative diplomatic platform for establishing ties with Turkic and Islamic countries and for international contacts, and Uzbekistan is a special partner for our republic. “Trade and economic dialogue between business communities is strengthening, cooperation across all sectors is developing, and cultural and humanitarian ties between our fraternal peoples are expanding,” the Chairman of the State Council said.

      Since 1992 a Representative Office of Tatarstan has operated in Tashkent, and in 2019 Uzbekistan’s Consulate General opened in Kazan. The first branch of Kazan Federal University is successfully operating in Jizzakh, Uzbekistan. This summer a solemn graduation ceremony was held in Kazan for students of the first international cohort of the joint Russian–Uzbek educational project between Kazan State Medical University and Tashkent Medical Academy. In total 2,700 students from Uzbekistan study in Tatarstan.

      “All of this is not one-off events but the result of systematic and consistent work. We intend to continue this multidimensional activity,” Farid Mukhametshin stressed. “We see enormous potential in ‘people’s diplomacy.’ Currently one of the largest Tatar diasporas abroad lives in Uzbekistan — more than 300,000 people.”

      Sadyk Safaev spoke about the state and prospects of deepening inter-parliamentary cooperation between the Federation Council of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation and the Senate of the Oliy Majlis of Uzbekistan. “Tatars and Uzbeks have a special bond. Our languages share common features, and we have a similar mentality. This is a wealth we must preserve. Meetings like this contribute to that,” Sadyk Safaev emphasized.

      Sadyk Safaev also noted the importance of holding the meeting in Kazan. “Kazan is a special city. It is a meeting point of cultures, languages and civilizations — all that which ‘living threads’ unites Russia and Uzbekistan,” Sadyk Safaev said. “Tatarstan is an important partner of Uzbekistan in trade and economic, humanitarian and cultural, and many other ties.” Currently the trade turnover between Tatarstan and Uzbekistan is approaching $400 million.

      Speaking with journalists, Farid Mukhametshin emphasized that Tatarstan aims to strengthen parliamentary friendship between Uzbekistan and Tatarstan. “The working format of the Commission, with trips to Russian regions where Uzbeks live compactly, is precisely aimed at strengthening interaction and cooperation between our countries,” Farid Mukhametshin said.

      As a reminder, these days members of the delegation of the Federation Council of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation, led by Senator Ilyas Umakhanov, co-chair of the Commission, and members of the parliamentary delegation of the Republic of Uzbekistan, led by First Deputy Chairman of the Senate of the Oliy Majlis of Uzbekistan Sadyk Safaev, are on a working visit to Kazan. The main purpose of the visit is to participate in the meeting of the Commission on Cooperation between the Federation Council of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation and the Senate of the Oliy Majlis of the Republic of Uzbekistan. In addition, the parliamentarians are becoming acquainted with the republic’s economic, investment, cultural and tourist potential. In particular, meetings are taking place today at the Bashir Rameev IT Park and the House of Friendship of the Peoples of Tatarstan.