BAKU, Azerbaijan, Apr. 21
By Ilkin Seyfaddini – Trend:
The European Union will provide Uzbekistan with financial aid to fight the coronavirus pandemic, Trend reports citing the press service of the Uzbek president.
Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev held a telephone conversation with European Council President Charles Michel April 20, the report said.
Michel expressed readiness of the European Union to provide the necessary support and informed about the decision to allocate financial and technical assistance to Uzbekistan.
According to the EU president, initial assistance to Uzbekistan to fight the pandemic will amount to 36 million euros - for equipment purchase and construction.
The sides also agreed to continue active negotiations on the draft of a new agreement on expanded partnership and cooperation by the end of 2020.
The Extended Partnership and Cooperation Agreement (EPCA) will replace the Partnership and Cooperation Agreement, which has been in force since 1999.
The outbreak of the coronavirus began in the Chinese city of Wuhan (an international transport hub), at a fish market in late December 2019.
The World Health Organization (WHO) declared COVID-19 a pandemic on March 11. Some sources claim the coronavirus outbreak started as early as November 2019.
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