The president of Russia's Republic of Tatarstan, Rustam Minnikhanov, was continuing a visit to Uzbekistan on September 25 with a schedule that includes participation in a Tatarstan-Uzbekistan business forum.
Minnikhanov's appearance at the Tatarstan-Uzbekistan business forum was expected to focus on trying to foster greater trade and economic ties between the Russian republic and Tashkent.
Minnikhanov was also scheduled to meet with Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoev later on September 25, the final day of his three-day visit.
Minnikhanov arrived from Kazan in Uzbekistan's eastern city of Samarkand on the evening of September 23.
On September 24, he visited the grave of Uzbekistan's late President Islam Karimov.
Minnikhanov also traveled to Tashkent on September 24 where he met with activists from Uzbekistan's Tar diaspora, which numbers about a half million people.
Tatarstan and Uzbekistan share a common historic, linguistic, religious, and cultural heritage.
