WASHINGTON, September 7. /Dunyo IA/.  In connection with the 35^th Anniversary of the Independence of Uzbekistan, Chairman of the U.S. House Ways and Means Committee Jason Smith extended, through Dunyo IA, his sincere congratulations and best wishes to the people of Uzbekistan:

- Each year on September 1^st, the Uzbek people celebrate that moment with pride. This year's milestone is a testament to how far the country has come in a single generation.

Just last week, I had the honor of leading a congressional delegation to Tashkent as Chairman of the Ways and Means Committee. We met with President Shavkat Mirziyoyev, Chairwoman of the Senate Tanzila Narbayeva, and other senior officials. During our meetings with senior officials and business leaders, we saw a nation that has chosen reform, opened its economy to the world, and welcomed American partnership. The hospitality ofthe Uzbek people left a lasting impression on every member of our delegation.

Thirty-five years ago, the people of Uzbekistan chose freedom. I congratulate President Mirziyoyev and the people of Uzbekistan on this historic anniversary, and I look forward to the next 35 years of friendship between our two nations.