President of Uzbekistan receives credentials of newly appointed foreign ambassadors

On July 28, a formal ceremony was held for the presentation of credentials by the newly appointed foreign ambassadors to Uzbekistan.

President of the Republic of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev received the credentials of the Ambassadors Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Italian Republic, Guido De Sanctis; the State of Palestine, Wail Batrekhi; the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Saad Abukhaimid; the State of Kuwait, Turki Al-Mekrad; the People's Democratic Republic of Algeria, Jamila Achour; Malaysia, Rafedah Binti Abdul Aziz; the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, Muhammad Mudassir Tipu; the Republic of Azerbaijan, Rashad Mammadov; and the Republic of Kazakhstan, Yeraly Tugzhanov.

President Shavkat Mirziyoyev warmly congratulated the heads of diplomatic missions on the start of their mission in New Uzbekistan.

It was emphasized that, at a time of growing geopolitical tensions in various regions of the world, the work of diplomats is becoming increasingly important.

Addressing each of the ambassadors, President Shavkat Mirziyoyev focused on the priority tasks for further expanding cooperation with the countries they represent.

The President noted that Italy is an important partner with significant political and economic potential. He highlighted joint projects in green energy, metallurgy, the chemical industry, agriculture, healthcare, pharmaceuticals, education, and tourism, as well as the successful operation of the Tashkent branches of the Turin Polytechnic University and the University of Pisa.

The Leader of Uzbekistan expressed support for expanding cooperation with the regions of Lombardy and Tuscany, particularly through joint initiatives to train medical personnel.

President Shavkat Mirizyoyev noted that relations with Palestine are developing on the basis of long-standing friendly ties. He reaffirmed Uzbekistan's support for a peaceful settlement of the Palestinian-Israeli conflict based on the "two states for two peoples" principle.

The Head of State emphasized that Uzbekistan's accession to the Peace Council as a founding state is intended to facilitate the restoration of Gaza.

The President of Uzbekistan noted that cooperation with Saudi Arabia has become exemplary. He highlighted the portfolio of joint projects worth $25 billion and the active support provided by the Saudi Fund for Development in implementing reforms in Uzbekistan.

The Leader of Uzbekistan also highlighted the significant potential for expanding cooperation in healthcare, pharmaceuticals, and green energy. He highly praised the conditions being created for Uzbekistan's citizens to perform the Hajj and Umrah pilgrimages.

The broad opportunities to elevate cooperation with Kuwait to a qualitatively new level in trade, investment, infrastructure, healthcare, and education were noted, along with the potential for implementing joint projects with the Kuwait Investment Authority in the petrochemical industry and through public-private partnership mechanisms.

President Shavkat Mirziyoyev emphasized that the full implementation of the agreements reached at the highest level will serve the interests of the peoples of both countries.

The intensification of high-level contacts with Algeria in recent years was noted.

There is significant potential for implementing mutually beneficial projects in the oil and gas industry, energy, mining, agriculture, and tourism. The importance of establishing a joint Intergovernmental Commission and signing a Preferential Trade Agreement was also noted.

In recent years, relations with Malaysia have developed consistently across all areas. Contacts at the highest and high levels have intensified, and leading Malaysian companies are actively entering the Uzbek market.

The President of Uzbekistan emphasized the great potential for developing cooperation in the semiconductor industry, petrochemicals, Islamic finance, and pilgrimage tourism.

Strategic partnership relations with Pakistan, which have developed on the basis of mutual respect and trust, have reached a qualitatively new level.

The Leader of Uzbekistan noted that priority tasks include launching direct flights on the Tashkent–Karachi route, implementing the Trans-Afghan Transport Corridor project, and further deepening partnership in industrial cooperation, energy, agriculture, the textile industry, pharmaceuticals, and tourism.

It was emphasized that, thanks to the firm political will of the leaders of the two countries, relations with Azerbaijan have reached the level of strategic partnership and alliance. Bilateral trade has increased by 40 percent, the number of joint ventures has reached nearly 450, while cargo transportation has doubled.

An ambitious goal has been set to increase the joint investment portfolio between Uzbekistan and Azerbaijan to $10 billion in the near future.

The President stressed that the upcoming high-level meetings will give new impetus to bilateral cooperation.

Addressing the Ambassador of Kazakhstan, President Shavkat Mirziyoyev emphasized that the historic bonds of friendship between the two countries continue to strengthen and that relations of strategic partnership and alliance are steadily expanding.

He noted that the main goal is to increase bilateral trade to $10 billion, and a portfolio of joint investment projects worth $8 billion has been formed. Interest was expressed in the full-scale launch of the Central Asia International Center for Industrial Cooperation.

At the conclusion of the ceremony, the President wished the newly appointed ambassadors every success in their honorable and responsible diplomatic mission and emphasized that all necessary conditions will be created to further strengthen the mutually beneficial partnership. He also called on all the ambassadors to actively engage with the private sector and the regions and to become better acquainted with the constructive transformations taking place on the ground.

In turn, the ambassadors expressed sincere gratitude for the warm reception and the conditions created, and stressed that they would make every effort to actively promote multifaceted cooperation with Uzbekistan.