Strategic milestone: Uzbekistan-France partnership announced

On March 12, President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev and President of France Emmanuel Macron held talks at the Élysée Palace. This was reported by the press service of the President.

It was stated that an agreement was reached to establish a Strategic Planning Group led by the foreign ministries and involving economic agencies, aimed at organizing and coordinating systematic dialogue.

After the talks, the heads of state made a historic decision to establish a strategic partnership between the two countries.

The leaders also conducted detailed discussions—both in a face-to-face format and with the involvement of delegations—on further developing and strengthening the multifaceted relations between Uzbekistan and France. It was noted with satisfaction that the agreements reached during their meeting in Samarkand in November 2023 are being implemented.

“Active dialogue is ongoing at various levels. Last year, trade turnover exceeded 1 billion euros for the first time, and the number of joint ventures quadrupled.

Prominent French companies such as Orano, EDF, Total, SUEZ, Voltalia, Veolia, and others are successfully operating in Uzbekistan. Cooperation with the French Development Agency has entered a new qualitative phase, and a new Partnership Program is being adopted.

As part of the visit preparations, the Intergovernmental Commission meeting and the MEDEF business mission were held successfully, and the Chamber of Commerce has started its work,” the report stated.

In addition, joint events are currently taking place in Paris, Toulouse, Lyon, and Nice with active participation from the regions. Yesterday, a joint medical forum, a conference on science and education, presentations on Uzbekistan's tourism potential and culture, and the unveiling of a bust of the great scholar Abu Rayhan Beruni in Gretz-Armainvilliers were held.

Expanding mutually beneficial cooperation in trade, economic, and financial-investment spheres and advancing joint projects with leading French companies and enterprises were given priority.

For this summit, a new Innovation and Industrial Partnership Program has been prepared. Joint projects worth a total of 6.5 billion euros in areas such as the extraction and processing of critical raw materials, energy, infrastructure development, and transportation are planned.

Overall, the portfolio of joint projects exceeds 12 billion euros.

In this regard, the importance of expanding financial support mechanisms was emphasized.

President Shavkat Mirziyoyev proposed establishing an Uzbekistan-France Investment Council to facilitate long-term cooperation and holding its first meeting during the Tashkent Investment Forum in June of this year.

To promote interregional cooperation, it was agreed to organize the first forum of the two countries' regions in Samarkand next year.

The leaders paid special attention to expanding practical humanitarian cooperation. Plans to organize an exhibition in Paris featuring avant-garde works from the Savitsky Museum collection and to open a representative office of the French Heritage Institute in Uzbekistan for the preservation and restoration of cultural monuments were supported.

This year, the opening of the Uzbekistan-France University in Tashkent, involving experienced specialists from France, was highlighted as a key agreement in the field of education. Effective cooperation will also continue in the training of French language teachers.

To activate business, tourism, and cultural exchanges, the parties will consider increasing the number of direct flights.

The heads of state also exchanged views on pressing international and regional issues. They stressed the importance of continuing mutual support within multilateral organizations and uniting efforts to combat modern threats such as terrorism, extremism, radicalism, cybercrime, and other security challenges.

After the meeting, President Shavkat Mirziyoyev invited President Emmanuel Macron to visit Uzbekistan at a convenient time for a reciprocal visit.

As a reminder, during their meeting in Samarkand in November 2023, Presidents Mirziyoyev and Macron adopted a Joint Statement expressing their intention to elevate bilateral relations to a strategic partnership level.