ISTANBUL

Over a dozen bilateral agreements were signed between Iran and Uzbekistan, whose president was in Tehran for an official visit.

"At the end of the high-level talks, the ceremony of signing bilateral documents took place … In addition, during the visit, 15 documents were adopted at the level of governments, departments and regions," said a statement late on Sunday by the office of Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev, who was invited by his counterpart Ebrahim Raisi.

The statement said Mirziyoyev and Raisi signed a joint statement on strengthening bilateral cooperation, further indicating that the documents were adopted at the governmental, departmental, and regional level.

It further said the agreements focused on further cooperation in preferential trade, technology, and innovation, while memorandums were adopted "in the field of creating joint free economic zones, pharmaceuticals, transport and transit."

A plan of joint measures in the field of sports, a memorandum of understanding in the field of dispute resolution and arbitration, an optional agreement on cooperation in the field of reinsurance and other documents were also signed," the statement also said.

The signing of the agreements followed narrow and expanded talks between Mirziyoyev and Raisi at the Saadabad Complex in Tehran, with trade, as well as economic and investment cooperation, high on the agenda.

"The presidents discussed opportunities for increasing the volume of mutual trade, coordinating cooperation in the field of transport and logistics," said an earlier Uzbek presidential statement.

The implementation of joint energy and technology investment projects was also discussed, in addition to expanded cooperation in agriculture, science, innovation, culture, international terrorism, drug trafficking, cyberterrorism, and human trafficking.

"The heads of state agreed to continue the dialogue on strengthening peace and stability in Afghanistan and promoting the socio-economic reconstruction of the neighboring country," it added.

Mirziyoyev later held talks with Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.