Tashkent: The United Arab Emirates and the Republic of Uzbekistan held the first round of consular consultations in the Uzbek capital, Tashkent, to discuss ways to strengthen consular cooperation, exchange expertise in areas of mutual interest, and enhance the quality of consular services provided to the citizens of both countries.

According to Emirates News Agency, the UAE delegation was led by Faisal Eissa Lutfi, Assistant Under-Secretary for Consular Affairs at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, while the Uzbek delegation was headed by Sherzod Batyrov, Head of the Consular and Legal Department at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Uzbekistan. During the meeting, Faisal Eissa Lutfi extended greetings from H.H. Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, expressing hopes for the success of the consultations.

Faisal Eissa Lutfi highlighted that UAE-Uzbekistan relations are experiencing sustained growth across various fields, reflecting the commitment of both countries' leaderships to expanding bilateral partnerships and cooperation in areas of mutual interest. He emphasized that the consular consultations mark a significant step in strengthening institutional cooperation and coordination in consular affairs, aiming to enhance services for citizens of both nations.

Sherzod Batyrov praised the depth of bilateral relations and the strong partnership between the UAE and Uzbekistan. He stressed the importance of expanding joint consular cooperation and enhancing services for citizens of both countries through strengthened coordination.

The consultations concluded with the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding to establish the UAE-Uzbekistan Joint Consular Committee. This committee will serve as a platform for ongoing dialogue, expertise exchange, and coordination on mutual interests, aiming to improve the quality and efficiency of consular services provided to citizens of both nations.