India and Uzbekistan on Sunday upgraded their bilateral ties to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership and agreed to pursue a long-term uranium supply arrangement, as both countries moved to deepen cooperation across defence, trade, energy and connectivity.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced the elevation after holding talks with Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev. The development comes as the two nations mark 15 years of their strategic partnership.
“On this special occasion, we have decided to elevate our relations to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership. We will move forward by setting concrete goals within this new framework,” Modi said at a joint press conference.
The two sides will create a Coordination Council headed by their foreign ministers to oversee various areas of bilateral cooperation. Their existing joint commission will also be upgraded from the secretary level to the ministerial level.
Modi described Uzbekistan as being “at the heart of Central Asia” and an important part of India’s engagement with the region.
DEFENCE COOPERATION AND ZERO TOLERANCE FOR TERROR
Modi said the close security and defence relationship between India and Uzbekistan demonstrated the strong trust shared by the two countries.
“In the coming years, we will promote direct linkages, co-production and co-development between the defence industries of our two countries,” he said.
He added that both nations regarded terrorism, extremism and separatism as serious threats to regional stability and shared a policy of zero tolerance towards such challenges.
INDIA, UZBEKISTAN TARGET $5 BILLION TRADE
Modi said bilateral trade had surpassed $1 billion, with India and Uzbekistan setting a target of increasing it to $5 billion by 2030.
The two countries will work towards improving market access, connectivity and banking and payment mechanisms. They also plan to hold a joint business summit and explore infrastructure projects that can benefit both sides.
“We will work together to enhance win-win cooperation in infrastructure development,” Modi said.
He highlighted growing cooperation in areas including digital public infrastructure, artificial intelligence, critical minerals, space and nuclear energy, saying these sectors were helping make the partnership future-oriented.
The two countries are also working towards a long-term uranium supply arrangement as part of their efforts to strengthen energy cooperation.
India has been considering uranium imports from Uzbekistan to support civilian nuclear power generation. Clean energy was among the key subjects discussed during Modi’s two-day visit.
‘RELATIONS SHOULD EXTEND BEYOND CAPITALS’
Modi said the partnership should expand beyond the national capitals of New Delhi and Tashkent. India and Uzbekistan plan to establish partnerships between cities and states to promote greater engagement at the local level.
He pointed to similarities in the development ambitions of both nations, saying youth, innovation, inclusive growth and modern technology were important to both “New Uzbekistan” and “Viksit Bharat 2047”.
“There is a deep similarity between the aspirations and thinking of India and Uzbekistan. Guided by this shared vision, we are working continuously for the welfare of our people,” he said.
MODI HONOURED WITH UZBEKISTAN'S HIGHEST AWARD
During his visit, President Mirziyoyev presented Modi with Uzbekistan’s highest state honour, the Order of “Oliy Darajali Dustlik”. It marked the Prime Minister’s 36th international award.
Modi described the honour as a source of pride and dedicated it to the longstanding friendship between India and Uzbekistan and to the 1.4 billion people of India.
Reflecting on the award’s name, he explained that “Dostlik” means friendship and noted the familiarity of Indians with the word “dost”, meaning friend.
Modi said the term “Dostlik” reflected the spirit of the relationship between India and Uzbekistan and emphasised that the honour represented not just him personally, but the people of India.
