As previously reported, the President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev on January 20-21 visited the Republic of Karakalpakstan.

President of Uzbekistan, Shavkat Mirziyoyev on January 20 arrived in Karakalpakstan to review the situation in the region, UzA reported.

On January 20, Uzbek Foreign Minister, Abdulaziz Kamilov received the EU Special Representative for Central Asia, Peter Burian.

According to the draft Presidential decree on Uzbekistan’s Development Strategy for 2017-2021, which is currently being discussed, Uzbekistan is planing to improve the passport-visa and entry-exit systems. The relevant government bodies are required to prepare proposals on this issue in third quarter of 2017.

The President of Uzbekistan by his Jan 17 decree has appointed Shahrukh Sharahmetov as deputy chairman of the Tourism Development Committee, the committee announced.

On January 19, Uzbekistan and Russia held a round of political consultations between foreign ministries. According to the Uzbek Foreign Ministry, the delegations of the two countries exchanged views on topical issues of bilateral cooperation in the framework of the CIS.

On January 19, at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Uzbekistan was held a meeting with Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Turkey, Ahmet Başar Şen.

On January 18, at the Uzbek Foreign Ministry hosted a meeting with Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Sultanate of Oman, Mohammed bin Said bin Mohammed al-Lawati.

Prices for locally manufactured medicines and medical devices fell by 8-44% compared with January last year, the Head of Department for Quality Control of Medicines and Medical Devices of the Uzbek Ministry of Health, Habibullo Jalilov announced.

On January 18, at the Foreign Ministry of Uzbekistan was held a meeting with the OSCE Project Co-ordinator, John S. MacGregor.

A draft Presidential Decree - "Uzbekistan’s Strategy for Further Development" (in Uzbek and Russian languages) has been published on the legal acts discussion portal.

Kuranbaev Kahramon Kuchkarovich has been appointed as Deputy State Adviser of the President of Uzbekistan on organizational and personnel affairs.

The Ministry of Justice of Uzbekistan has prepared a draft Presidential decree "On measures to improve the communicating system of legal acts, explanations of their nature and meaning."

On 16 January 2017, the Uzbek Foreign Minister, Abdulaziz Kamilov received the Japanese parliamentary mission, headed by the MP of the House of Councillors, Yuhei Yumashita.

Uzbekistan passport ranked 70th in the updated Passport Index, the popular global ranking of the world's passports prepared by Arton Capital, the global advisory for residence and citizenship solutions.

According to the website of the Prosecutor General of Russia, the Uzbek Prosecutor General, Ikhtiyor Abdullayev met with the Prosecutor General of Russia, Yuriy Chaika in Moscow.

According to preliminary data of the Statistics Committee, the population of Uzbekistan as of January 1, 2017 reached  32,121.1 thousand, an increase by 545.8 thous. or 1.7% compared to the beginning of the year. The urban population was 16,238.5 thousand (50.6%), the rural population -. 15,882.6 thousand (49.4%).

Today, the Uzbek Deputy Prime Minister, Adham Ikramov and the Vice Prime Minister of Kyrgyzstan, Zhenish Razakov are meeting in Osh.

President Shavkat Mirziyoyev criticized the Competition Committee chairman, Davron Khidoyatov for costly business travels abroad.

The President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev at the Jan 14 enlarged session of the Government drew attention to the problems in the social sphere.