New Delhi, Aug 4: India and Uzbekistan have agreed to expand their strategic partnership by strengthening cooperation in key sectors including critical minerals, mining, trade, energy, infrastructure, defence and education during high-level discussions held in New Delhi.
The talks took place during the official visit of Uzbekistan Foreign Minister Bakhtiyor Saidov, who held discussions with External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar on bilateral relations and regional developments.
Welcoming the Uzbek delegation, Jaishankar described Uzbekistan as an important partner in India’s extended neighbourhood and highlighted the deep historical, cultural and civilisational links between the two countries.
The two sides conducted a comprehensive review of their strategic partnership and explored new opportunities to expand cooperation in areas such as digital technology, healthcare, construction, energy and education.
A major focus of the discussions was strengthening collaboration in the mining sector, particularly in critical minerals and rare earth resources, which are becoming increasingly important for emerging technologies and clean energy industries.
Jaishankar said bilateral trade, currently close to one billion US dollars, has significant potential for further growth as both countries work towards expanding economic engagement.
The discussions also covered regional and global issues, including cooperation in multilateral forums. India and Uzbekistan reiterated their shared commitment to combating terrorism, extremism and drug trafficking, with both sides maintaining a policy of zero tolerance towards terrorism.
India also appreciated Uzbekistan’s support during India’s BRICS Presidency in 2026 and extended support for Uzbekistan’s candidature to chair the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) for 2027-2029.
Earlier, Foreign Minister Saidov met President Droupadi Murmu at Rashtrapati Bhavan. The President highlighted the strong historical ties between the two nations and said the visit would help identify new areas of cooperation.
President Murmu emphasised the potential for greater collaboration in sectors including rare earth minerals, agriculture, pharmaceuticals and information technology. She also noted the growing educational partnership, with thousands of Uzbek officials and students benefiting from India’s training and scholarship programmes.
The President further highlighted the strong academic exchange between the two countries, with more than 16,000 Indian students currently pursuing higher education in Uzbekistan.
The latest discussions underline the growing importance of India-Uzbekistan relations and the shared interest of both nations in building a stronger economic and strategic partnership.
