<h6><strong>The Diplomat</strong></h6> <h4><strong>The Uzbek ambassador expressed his satisfaction that the volume of bilateral trade with Spain ‘increased by 46% up to September of this year’ and expressed his conviction that both countries have ‘great potential for collaboration in numerous economic sectors’.</strong></h4> During the reception he gave to commemorate the 33rd anniversary of his country's independence, Tursunov identified among other sectors with growth potential the chemical and services sectors, as well as underlining his government's interest in attracting Spanish technology, infrastructure, construction, energy and agricultural companies. He also expressed his satisfaction at ‘the launch of direct charter flights between Madrid and Tashkent’, which the company Iberojet has recently set up, and which, he said, will contribute to stimulating the growth of tourist traffic between the two countries. This year has already surpassed the number of 50,000 Spanish tourists visiting Uzbekistan in 2023, he said, adding that ‘we hope to double that number by the end of 2024’. For his part, Carlos Moreno Blanco, Director General for North America, Eastern Europe, Asia and the Pacific of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Carlos Moreno, after assuring that Uzbekistan ‘is the new bridge between Central Asia and Europe’, agreed with the ambassador in recalling that it is now 620 years since the arrival in Samarkand of the first Spanish Embassy in Central Asia, headed by the Castilian Ruy González de Clavijo. After expressing his satisfaction at the recovery of this relationship over the last 30 years, in which both countries have made clear ‘their desire to further deepen their bilateral relations’, Moreno affirmed that ‘our exchanges have only grown and, in the economic sphere, Spanish companies are showing increasing interest in Uzbekistan’. With regard to bilateral political relations, the Spanish diplomat stressed that high-ranking officials from both foreign ministries regularly hold meetings that ‘highlight the importance of bilateral relations between our countries’. The reception was attended by numerous foreign ambassadors accredited in Spain, including those of China, Korea, Slovakia, Estonia, Russia, Belarus, Afghanistan, Azerbaijan, Iran, Thailand, Indonesia and Vietnam. [caption id="attachment_94580" align="alignnone" width="750"]<img class="wp-image-94580 size-full" src="https://thediplomatinspain.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/Carlos-Moreno-Blanco-ok.jpg" alt="" width="750" height="422" /> Carlos Moreno Blanco, Director-General for North America, Eastern Europe, Asia and the Pacific of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, EU and Cooperation of Spain[/caption] [caption id="attachment_94582" align="alignnone" width="750"]<img class="wp-image-94582 size-full" src="https://thediplomatinspain.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/Rusia-Bielorrusia-y-Azerbaiyan-y-esposa-ok.jpg" alt="" width="750" height="422" /> Left: Russian, Belarusian and Azerbaijani ambassadors with their wife. The Russian ambassador is also present.[/caption] [caption id="attachment_94586" align="alignnone" width="750"]<img class="wp-image-94586 size-full" src="https://thediplomatinspain.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/Jose-Maria-Chiquillo-ok.jpg" alt="" width="750" height="428" /> The Spanish politician, José María Chiquillo, who described Uzbekistan as "a dream country" during his speech.[/caption] [caption id="attachment_94588" align="alignnone" width="750"]<img class="wp-image-94588 size-full" src="https://thediplomatinspain.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/Eslovaquia-Corea-y-China-ok.jpg" alt="" width="750" height="429" /> The ambassadors of Slovakia, Korea (in the centre) and China.[/caption] [caption id="attachment_94590" align="alignnone" width="750"]<img class="wp-image-94590 size-full" src="https://thediplomatinspain.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/Tailandia-Indonesia-Iran-Afganistan-y-Viernam-ok.jpg" alt="" width="750" height="422" /> Left: The ambassadors of Thailand, Indonesia, Iran, Afghanistan and Vietnam.[/caption]
