Putin and his Uzbek counterpart Islam Karimov signed a bilateral-cooperation treaty on 14 November, Russian news agencies reported the same day. Speaking at a press conference after talks in the Kremlin with Karimov, Putin said the treaty takes Russia and Uzbekistan \"to the closest possible degree of interaction.\" The agreement paves the way for long-term cooperation in trade and security, including defense coordination and intelligence sharing, mutual use of military facilities, and cooperation in battling terrorism and drug trafficking. \"We think there is a need to do everything possible to neutralize the narcotic and terrorist threat coming from Afghanistan, and we will, of course, continue to provide our neighbors with help in developing their economic and social infrastructure,\" Putin said. The agreement also aims to boost trade and cooperation in the energy, food, and agricultural sectors. Speaking at the same Kremlin press conference, Karimov said on 14 November that he hopes the new treaty will strengthen Russia\'s position in Central Asia. The \"consolidation of Russia\'s presence in Central Asia will be a reliable guarantee of peace and stability in the region\" and will benefit Russia, Uzbekistan, and the rest of the world, Karimov said. At their talks, Putin and Karimov also discussed Uzbekistan\'s pending membership in the Eurasian Economic Community, which comprises Russia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, and Tajikistan. Uzbekistan is scheduled to join by the end of the year. (RIA-Novosti)