~PM Narendra Modi and Uzbekistan President Shavkat Mirziyoyev elevate bilateral ties to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership and set a USD 5 billion trade target by 2030.
New Delhi, Aug 30 (VNI): Prime Minister Narendra Modi, during his State Visit to Uzbekistan, today held official talks with Uzbekistan President Shavkat Mirziyoyev at the Kuksaroy Presidential Palace.
Prime Minister Shri Modi was warmly received by President Shri Mirziyoyev and accorded a ceremonial welcome. He conveyed his warmest greetings to Uzbekistan on the occasion of the country’s 35th anniversary of Independence.
The two leaders held wide-ranging discussions on the entire spectrum of bilateral relations, including trade and investment, innovation and start-ups, digital public infrastructure and UPI, defence and security, healthcare and pharmaceuticals, critical minerals, agriculture, education, tourism, space and people-to-people exchanges. Prime Minister Modi appreciated progress towards a long-term arrangement for the supply of uranium from Uzbekistan to India and stressed the importance of strengthening cooperation in critical minerals.
Reflecting the growing depth of India-Uzbekistan ties, the two leaders agreed to elevate the bilateral Strategic Partnership to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership. They also set a target of achieving bilateral trade worth USD 5 billion by 2030 and called for hosting a Business Summit to further strengthen economic and investment ties. The leaders agreed to establish a Foreign Ministers-led mechanism and raise the Inter-Governmental Commission to the ministerial level.
Prime Minister Modi also highlighted the strong civilizational and people-to-people connect between the two countries and appreciated the popularity of Yoga in Uzbekistan. He announced the Lal Bahadur Shastri Scholarship for Hindi language for Uzbek students to commemorate the 60th anniversary of the former Prime Minister’s passing. India will also partner with Uzbekistan in environmental rehabilitation efforts in the Aral Sea region through a USD 1 million grant, reflecting convergence between Uzbekistan’s “Yashil Makon” initiative and India’s “Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam” campaign.
Following the talks, the two sides witnessed the exchange of MoUs and agreements covering culture, higher education and research, capacity building, archives, economic cooperation, environment, tourism, mining, Ayurveda and sister-state relations. A Letter of Intent was concluded for restoration of the Buddhist sites of Fayaz Tepa and Kara Tepa, while an MoU for establishing an ICCR Sanskrit Chair at Tashkent State University of Oriental Studies was also finalised. President Mirziyoyev hosted a banquet lunch in honour of Prime Minister Modi, who thanked him for his gracious hospitality and invited him to visit India. VNI NEWS, PM Narendra Modi Uzbekistan visit, India Uzbekistan relations, Shavkat Mirziyoyev, Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, India Uzbekistan trade, USD 5 billion trade target, Foreign Policy, Bilateral Trade, Central Asia, VNINews, VNINews.com