Italian Prime Minister Meloni lands in Uzbekistan while returning from South Korea

On January 19, President of the Republic of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev held a meeting in Tashkent with Prime Minister of the Italian Republic Giorgia Meloni, who made a brief stopover in the Uzbek capital. The meeting was reported by the Presidential Press Service.

During the talks, the sides discussed practical aspects of further strengthening the Uzbekistan–Italy strategic partnership and expanding multifaceted cooperation.

It was noted with satisfaction that the high-level agreements reached in Samarkand in May 2025 are being consistently implemented.

“Active dialogue is ongoing at various levels. Trade turnover and the number of joint ventures are steadily increasing. Interregional cooperation, including exchanges with Lombardy, is developing. Quotas have been allocated for the orderly labor migration of Uzbek citizens. Major industrial cooperation projects are being implemented in partnership with companies such as Finopera, ANCI, Pietro Fiorentini, Danieli, and others. At the end of last year, a branch of the University of Tuscia was opened in Samarkand,” the statement said.

According to the information provided, meetings of foreign policy agencies within the framework of a strategic dialogue, sessions of the intergovernmental commission, and the second Rectors’ Forum are planned to be held this year.

Particular attention was paid to advancing joint projects in priority sectors such as the textile industry, geology, energy, chemicals, construction materials, and financial markets.

The parties agreed to hold Days of Uzbek Cinema in Italy and Days of Italian Cinema in Uzbekistan. Plans for Uzbekistan’s participation in the next Venice Biennale, as well as for hosting applied arts and museum exhibitions in Milan later this year, were also supported.

In addition, the sides exchanged views on international and regional issues. At the conclusion of the meeting, President Shavkat Mirziyoyev invited Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni to pay an official visit to Uzbekistan.

For reference, on January 18, Prime Minister Meloni paid an official visit to the Republic of Korea. On January 19, she held talks with President of South Korea Lee Jae-myung.

It is worth recalling that following earlier talks in Samarkand, President Shavkat Mirziyoyev and Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni adopted a joint declaration on strengthening strategic partnership relations.