Russia: Putin invites Uzbek President Karimov for official state visit

Russian President Vladimir Putin met with the President of Uzbekistan Islam Karimov in Ufa, Friday, as part of a meeting of the Council of Heads of States of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO). Putin invited the Uzbek president to Moscow for an official state visit to mark the 10-year anniversary of their countries' alliance. Karimov highlighted the warm relationship Tashkent has towards Russia, saying "I think it is fate, it's the challenges we shared that have not just drawn us closer but have welded together our future." Leaders of the SCO countries are expected to adopt the SCO Development Strategy towards 2025 and the Ufa Declaration at the summit. There are also plans to sign an intergovernmental agreement on border cooperation. The 15th meeting of the Council of Heads of State of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) takes place on July 9 and 10 in Ufa and coincides with a meeting of the BRICS leaders. Leaders from Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa have been discussing further cooperation between the countries of the bloc, namely within the context of the newly-formed New Development Bank (NDB).