Over 2.4 million tourists visited Uzbekistan in January-July, increasing last year's figures by 2.2 times (1.3 million), the Statistics Committee said in a report.

Today, Shavkat Mirziyoyev had a telephone conversation with Russian President Vladimir Putin. According to the presidential press service, the parties reviewed the ways to strengthen the bilateral strategic partnership and alliance ties and to advance regional cooperation in the light of upcoming events at the highest level.

Today, the Acting Foreign Minister Vladimir Norov hosted the delegation of the U.S. House of Representatives, consisting of the Congressmen Trent Kelly and Darin Lahoud.

Russia regards the July events in Karakalpakstan autonomy of Uzbekistan and the January events in Kazakhstan as ongoing attempts by the West to promote democracy through “color revolutions,” Russian Security Council Secretary Nikolai Patrushev said at a meeting of the secretaries of security councils of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization member states on Friday, TASS reported.

Delegation of the U.S. Congress arrived in Uzbekistan on Sunday to discuss the current state and prospects of Uzbek-American cooperation and issues of expanding inter-parliamentary assistance.

Uzavtosanoat (UzAuto) and Chinese carmaker BYD Auto signed an agreement on organizing the production of BYD models in Uzbekistan, the Uzbek carmaker said.

Uzbekistan will produce new generation Volkswagen Caddy V ambulance cars equipped with modern equipment and manufactured in line with new international standards. Its salon will allow to comfortably accommodate the patient and medical staff.

On August 18, Uzbekistan Airways operated first Tashkent to Tokyo flight on August 18, the company said. The Boeing 767 aircraft landed at Narita International Airport this morning.

On August 18, in Jeddah, Shavkat Mirziyoyev met with the CEOs of major Saudi companies and financial institutions. The event was attended by Investment Minister Khalid al-Falih, as well as CEOS of about 20 largest Saudi companies and corporations, such as ACWA Power, SABIC, Saudi National Bank, Al Rajhi Capital, Ma'aden, Petromin, Jamjoom Pharma, SEDCO, Salic, Albawani, Ajlan & Bros, Desert Technologies and others.

Today, Tashkent is hosting a meeting of the secretaries of the security councils of the SCO member states. The day before, on August 18, Secretary of the Security Council of Uzbekistan Viktor Makhmudov received his Russian counterpart Nikolai Patrushev.

A shuttle bus has been launched between the terminals of domestic and international airlines of the Tashkent airport, the Uzbekistan Airports said, with a low-floor bus with a UzPort sticker will run daily from 05:00 to 23:30.

President Shavkat Mirziyoyev, at the end of a two-day state visit to Saudi Arabia, visited Mecca and performed umrah rites, the presidential press service said.

From September 1, it is proposed to ban the sale of sweet, fizzy and energy drinks, as well as fast food in schools and near them at a distance of at least 500 m. This is provided for in the draft National Strategy to Promote Adolescent Health and Well-Being for 2022-2026.

Today, at about 14:30, one of the methane cylinders exploded in an Isuzu bus at the exit from a gas filling station in Akaltyn district of Syrdarya province, the Ministry of Emergency Situations reported.

According to the State Statistics Committee, as of August 1, 2022, the number of foreign-invested enterprises registered in Uzbekistan topped 14,546 thousand, recording an increase by 1,417 to the same date last year.

Active phase of the China-Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan railway project will begin in the near future. On August 18, Prime Minister of Kyrgyzstan Akylbek Zhaparov hosted the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of China Du Dewen.

Three major agreements worth of US$ 12 billion were signed between the Ministry of Energy of Uzbekistan, the Ministry of Energy of Saudi Arabia and Saudi companies.

The President’s draft of the Approval of International Treaty was announced. The Treaty between the government of Uzbekistan and the government of Azerbaijan on international road traffic, signed in Tashkent was approved on June 21, 2022.

On the afternoon of August 17, President Shavkat Mirziyoyev arrived in the city of Jeddah as part of a state visit to Saudi Arabia, the presidential press service said.

On August 17, the fourth meeting of the Uzbek-Saudi Business Council was held in Jeddah, the Ministry of Investments and Foreign Trade said on Wednesday.