TASHKENT, April 17 (Xinhua) -- Uzbekistan has signed a protocol of intention with France on the purchase of 34 Airbus helicopters to be used in emergency medical care purposes, a visiting French minister said on Wednesday.

Jean-Baptiste Lemoyne, minister of state attached to the minister for Europe and foreign affairs, said at a briefing held following his two-day visit to Uzbekistan that the Central Asian nation plans to buy 34 single-engine light utility helicopters from Airbus.

Lemoyne is visiting four Central Asian countries - Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, and Kyrgyzstan - from April 15 to 20 to discuss economic cooperation.

He also said that French development agency will finance a 73-million-euro project to modernize the Charvak hydro power plant near Tashkent.