Why did Mirziyoyev not meet with Putin?

On the night of 14 September this year, President Xi Jinping of the People’s Republic of China arrived in Samarkand to attend the summit of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization.  President Shavkat Mirziyoyev personally met him at Samarkand International Airport.

Yesterday, 15 September, a plane with Russian President Vladimir Putin on board landed at Samarkand airport and was greeted by Prime Minister Abdullah Aripov, not Mirziyoyev.  This caused a heated discussion in the networks.  Everyone was interested in why Mirziyoyev did not meet with Putin.

Political scientist Saifiddin Jorayev explained to QALAMPIR.UZ why Mirziyoyev personally came to the airport to meet Xi Jinping, and Aripov was responsible for meeting Putin.

He noted that international relations and norms of international law, even the United Nations, have their own rules on state visits and how to welcome their leaders.

“Chinese President Xi Jinping paid a state visit to Uzbekistan.  The procedure for meeting with the Head of State on a State visit, the attitude towards him, concluding contracts with him, conducting negotiations are different.  It also depends on the consent of both sides”, said the political scientist.

Jorayev said it was a special symbol of respect for the Chinese leader.  Therefore, the President of China, who came on a state visit, was met with more solemnity than in other countries.

“Putin’s visit is a working visit.  He is going to attend the SCO summit.  There is also a special protocol of the meeting of the head of state with such a visit.  Naturally, the Prime Minister welcomed Putin with the consent of both sides,” he said.

He also added that there was another reason.  When Putin landed at Samarkand airport, Mirziyoyev was holding talks with other heads of state.

Meeting Mirziyoyev (Putin - Ed.) at the airport was impossible while negotiations with the leaders who came with a state visit are underway.  Taking such circumstances into account, all presidents were greeted according to the protocol of international and state order," said Joraev.

Recommending that we should not misunderstand this situation, a political scientist noted with pride that due to the ongoing summit, Uzbekistan will become an important country in international politics.

For information, on the eve of the SCO summit, Shavkat Mirziyoyev did not meet not only with Putin, but also with other heads of state and government, and this task was entrusted to Prime Minister Abdullah Aripov on the basis of a special protocol.