The Presidents of Uzbekistan and France, Shavkat Mirziyoyev and Emmanuel Macron elevated the bilateral ties to the strategic partnership level during the talks at the Elysee Palace in Paris Wednesday, the press service of the Uzbek President said.
With an aim to build a systemic dialogue and "synchronize watches," the parties agreed to create a Strategic Planning Group headed by the foreign ministers with the involvement of economic departments.
Reportedly, the two leaders, in a head-to-head format and with the participation of delegations, discussed in detail the ways to further develop and strengthen the Uzbek-French multifaceted relations.
They welcomed the implementation of the agreements reached during the previous meeting in Samarkand in November 2023. Active contacts have been established between the countries at various levels since then. For the first time ever the two-way trade last year surpassed 1 billion euros, the number of joint ventures increased 4 times.
The counterparts also focused on expanding cooperation in the trade, economic, investment and financial spheres, promoting cooperation projects with leading companies and enterprises of France.
Meeting of the Intergovernmental Commission and the MEDEF business mission took place, and the Business Chamber began its operations ahead of the visit. A new Cooperation Program is being adopted with the French Development Agency.
As part of the state visit of Shavkat Mirziyoyev, joint events are taking place in Paris, Toulouse, Lyon and Nice with the participation of the provinces. The day before, a joint medical forum and conference on science and education, presentations of the tourism potential and culture of Uzbekistan took place. A bust to the scholar Abu Rayhon Beruni was unveiled in the city of Gretz-Armenville.
A new Program of Innovation and Industrial Partnership was prepared for the summit. It is envisaged to promote joint projects in the field of extraction and processing of critical mineral raw materials, energy, infrastructure development, transport and other sectors worth 6.5 billion euros.
To date, the portfolio of joint projects has surpassed 12 billion euros.
Shavkat Mirziyoyev proposed to set up an Uzbek-French Investment Council and hold its first meeting on the sidelines of the Tashkent Investment Forum in June this year.
To stimulate interprovinceal contacts, an agreement was reached to hold the first Forum of Provinces of the two countries in Samarkand next year.
The presidents supported plans to organize an avant-garde exhibition from the collection of the Nukus Museum named after Igor Savitsky in Paris, as well as to open a representative office of the French Heritage Institute in Uzbekistan for partnership in the field of preservation and restoration of cultural monuments.
The main agreement in the field of education was the opening of the Uzbek-French University in Tashkent this year with the involvement of specialists from France. Cooperation in the field of teaching the French language teachers will also be continued.
To step up business, tourism and cultural exchanges, the parties will consider increasing the frequency of direct flights.
The heads of state also exchanged views on the international and regional agenda and pointed to the importance of continuing mutual support within the framework of multilateral organizations and combining efforts in the fight against terrorism, extremism, radicalism, cybercrime and other modern security challenges.
