TASHKENT - President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev and his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin held a meeting on Monday in Tashkent, according to the press service of the Uzbek leader.

"During the meeting, issues of further development and deepening of the comprehensive strategic partnership and alliance between Uzbekistan and Russia were discussed," the statement said.

During the negotiations, an agreement was reached on the launch of a joint investment platform to support joint projects of leading enterprises

It was noted that both sides were pleased with the growing dynamics of trade and economic cooperation. "The volume of trade turnover and Russian investments in Uzbekistan is increasing, and industrial cooperation is developing. The portfolio of joint projects has reached 45 billion dollars," the statement emphasized.

Uzbek President Mirziyoyev said Russia will build a small nuclear power plant in Uzbekistan, the first such project in post-Soviet Central Asia. 

The nuclear deal, if implemented, will showcase Russia's ability to export not only energy, but also high-tech products to new Asian markets.

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During the negotiations, an agreement was also reached on the launch of a joint investment platform to support joint projects of leading enterprises. The presidents stressed the importance of further developing interregional cooperation.  

Putin said Russia would put $400 million into a joint investment fund of $500 million to finance projects in Uzbekistan.

The Uzbek president described Putin's visit as "historic".

"It heralds the beginning of a new age in the comprehensive strategic partnership and alliance relations between our countries," he said.

Putin also called Tashkent Moscow's "strategic partner and reliable ally".

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According to documents published by the Kremlin, Russian state nuclear firm Rosatom will build up to six nuclear reactors with a capacity of 55 megawatts each in Uzbekistan.

The Kazakh project, however, can only move ahead after a national referendum which has not yet been scheduled.

With Reuters inputs