TASHKENT (RIA Novosti) -- The U.S. and Uzbek ministries of defense signed an agreement on military cooperation, including training and educational exchanges, a U.S. embassy spokesman said on Thursday.

The Tashkent embassy official told RIA Novosti the document was signed by Uzbek Maj. Gen. Kabul Berdieyev and Gen. David Petraeus during the latter's one-day visit to the Central Asian country on August 18.
Uzbek President Islam Karimov told a top U.S. military official on Tuesday that his country was ready to strengthen ties with the United States on equal partnership terms.