The key facts

  • Marco Rubio at the forum in Samarkand thanked Sergio Gor and Saida Mirziyoyeva as co-chairs of the business and investment council
  • Rubio called Mirziyoyeva 'incredibly talented, smart and hardworking'
  • Cooperation in the B5+1 format (Kun.uz has S5+1) for developing business ties was noted

Praise at the Samarkand forum

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, at a business forum in Samarkand, highly praised the work of the Head of the Administration of the President of Uzbekistan Saida Mirziyoyeva. He expressed special gratitude to the hosts of the event — the US-Uzbekistan Business and Investment Council and its two co-chairs: US Special Representative, Ambassador Sergio Gor, and Saida Mirziyoyeva.

'We simply call her Saida'

According to Rubio, the American side often meets Mirziyoyeva at various events, so they simply call her Saida. 'She is an extremely talented, smart and hardworking person. Thank you both for the time and effort invested in this cause. Tonight would not have happened without you,' Zamon.uz quotes him as saying, citing his remarks.

Cooperation in the B5+1 format

Rubio noted that together with the council's co-chairs and the B5+1 group, the US and Uzbekistan combined the capabilities of the state and the private sector to develop business ties between the countries. At the same time, the Uzbek outlet Kun.uz, in its version of the quote, mentions the 'S5+1' format, whereas Zamon.uz, in three languages, writes 'B5+1' — the outlets differ in the name of the format.

Shared values as the foundation of relations

'We are independent and sovereign states. Each of us wants the best for our country and our people. It is precisely these shared values and goals that allow us to develop our relations so effectively,' the US Secretary of State stated, adding that the foundation of effective cooperation is the shared values and goals of the parties.