Mirziyoyev awards outgoing French ambassador to Uzbekistan

President of the Republic of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev today, August 14, received Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of France Aurelia Bouchez, who is completing her diplomatic mission in the country. This was reported by the press service of the President.

The Head of State praised the effective work of the French ambassador and her contribution to the development and strengthening of strategic partnership relations between the two countries. It was noted that high-level mutual visits have helped elevate Uzbek-French cooperation to a qualitatively new stage, enriching its agenda with concrete initiatives.

“Systematic dialogue and active contacts have been established at various levels. Significant successes have been achieved in the trade and economic spheres: in recent years, trade turnover has increased fourfold, and projects worth more than $10 billion are being implemented with leading French companies and organizations,” the statement reads.

According to the report, important programs are underway in the fields of education, healthcare, and cultural and humanitarian exchange. Exhibitions at the Louvre Museum and the Institute of the Arab World have been met with great success.

In addition, a monument to Beruniy has been unveiled near Paris, and a street in the French capital has been named after Samarkand. This year, the Uzbek-French University will begin operating in Tashkent.

After the meeting, the President of Uzbekistan presented the Order of Friendship to Ambassador Aurelia Bouchez for her significant contribution to strengthening the relations of friendship and strategic partnership between the two countries.

The Ambassador expressed her sincere gratitude to the Head of State for the high recognition of her diplomatic mission and for his comprehensive support in expanding wide-ranging cooperation between Uzbekistan and France.

For reference, Aurelia Bouchez was born on January 20, 1960. A graduate of the Paris Institute of Political Studies and the École nationale d’administration (ENA), she began her career as an administrator at Paris City Hall (1984–1989). She later worked at the European Directorate of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (1989–1993). Bouchez has served as France's ambassador to Uzbekistan since October 2021, and previously as France's ambassador to Azerbaijan and the European Union's ambassador to Kazakhstan.