PM Modi Honored with Uzbekistan's Highest Award: Key Agreements on Uranium and Business Summit Signed

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has been conferred with the highest civilian honor of Uzbekistan during his significant visit to the capital city of Tashkent. This prestigious recognition was bestowed upon him by President Shavkat Mirziyoyev in a special ceremony, marking a historic milestone in the diplomatic relations between the two nations, while the visit, which spanned two days, was characterized by a warm and grand welcome for the Indian Prime Minister, reflecting the deep-rooted friendship and growing synergy between India and Uzbekistan.

The Supreme Award and Bilateral Engagement

The conferment of Uzbekistan's Supreme Award to Prime Minister Modi serves as a testament to his leadership and his efforts in strengthening the ties between New Delhi and Tashkent. President Shavkat Mirziyoyev personally presented the award, highlighting the respect and value Uzbekistan places on its partnership with India. Following the ceremony, the two leaders engaged in high-level delegation-level talks aimed at charting a new course for bilateral cooperation. These discussions were pivotal, as they led to the decision to elevate the relationship between the two countries to the status of a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, while the talks focused on strengthening strategic partnership, economic cooperation, technology, energy, and trade.

Strategic Decisions and Institutional Framework

During the bilateral meeting, Prime Minister Modi announced that both nations have taken several key decisions to streamline their cooperation. To provide a structured direction to all aspects of mutual engagement, a Coordination Council will be established at the Foreign Minister level. Plus, the existing Joint Commission, which previously operated at the Secretary level, will be elevated to the Ministerial level, while this move is expected to accelerate decision-making and implementation of bilateral projects. Prime Minister Modi emphasized that the teams from both sides are in complete agreement regarding these institutional changes.

Energy Security and Economic Collaboration

A major highlight of the discussions was the focus on energy security, specifically the supply of uranium. Both countries have agreed to establish a long-term arrangement for the supply of uranium to India, which is a critical component for India's energy needs. In addition to energy, the leaders focused on boosting trade through a dedicated Business Summit. This summit will bring together business leaders from both India and Uzbekistan to explore new avenues of investment and commercial exchange, while the Prime Minister noted that such platforms are essential to realize the full economic potential of the two nations.

Urban Development and Technology Exchange

The dialogue also touched upon urban development and technological innovation, while prime Minister Modi highlighted the synergy between Uzbekistan's mega-projects, such as New Tashkent, and India's initiatives like GIFT City in Gujarat. He extended an invitation to an Uzbek delegation to visit GIFT City to study the use of technology in modern urban planning, while Also, three sister-city and sister-state arrangements are being established to foster closer people-to-people ties and regional cooperation. A roadmap will be created to fully realize the potential of these arrangements.

President Mirziyoyev Praises India's Progress

President Shavkat Mirziyoyev lauded India's remarkable achievements under the leadership of Prime Minister Modi. He noted that India is maintaining a high rate of economic growth and successfully implementing large-scale projects across various sectors. The President specifically mentioned India's extraordinary progress in digitalization, information technology, artificial intelligence, space exploration, and other advanced fields. He remarked that New Delhi's voice and influence in global affairs have grown Notably stronger. As close friends, the President expressed Uzbekistan's happiness and pride in witnessing India's continued success on the global stage.