Uzbekistan and the Czech Republic consistently develop multifaceted cooperation based on mutually beneficial dialogue

On April 29th, Prime Minister of the Czech Republic Andrej Babiš, arrived in Uzbekistan on an official visit.

 In the context of the modern transformation of international relations and growing global threats and risks, Uzbekistan and the Czech Republic - located in distant regions of the continent - are consistently developing bilateral cooperation, giving it a more systematic and multifaceted character. The expansion of political dialogue, the strengthening of trade and economic partnership and the intensification of humanitarian interaction reflect the mutual interest of both parties in deepening their partnership.

The formation of stable ties between Tashkent and Prague relies on the experience gained since the establishment of diplomatic relations on January 1, 1993.

A vital element of bilateral interaction is the contact between the leaders of the two countries. For instance, on September 23, 2025, President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev held a meeting with President of the Czech Republic Petr Pavel during the 80th session of the UN General Assembly, which provided a new impetus to joint projects in various fields.

Uzbekistan and the Czech Republic pay special attention to coordinating their cooperation within multilateral platforms. Contacts between the foreign ministries of the two countries are regularly maintained through international events. In particular, in 2023, bilateral meetings between the foreign ministers of Uzbekistan and the Czech Republic took place at the “Uzbekistan – European Union” Cooperation Council meeting in Luxembourg, as well as during the OSCE Ministerial Council meeting in Skopje.

The Foreign Ministers of the two countries 'synchronized their watches' during a meeting held in September 2024 on the sidelines of the 79th session of the UN General Assembly in New York, where the ministers reaffirmed their commitment to further expanding comprehensive cooperation and discussed prospects for deepening interaction.

In October 2024, Czech Foreign Minister Jan Lipavský paid an official visit to Tashkent, during which he held meetings with the Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Foreign Affairs and other Uzbek officials, further emphasizing the steady nature of the political dialogue between the parties.

In addition to the existing Czech Embassy in Tashkent, the upcoming official opening of the Embassy of Uzbekistan in Prague will, according to experts, mark a significant step toward further strengthening systemic dialogue and expanding mutually beneficial cooperation across the full spectrum of areas.

Inter-parliamentary and inter-departmental cooperation plays a substantial role in the development of Uzbek-Czech relations. Contacts between the legislative bodies of the two countries are consistently evolving, taking on a more systematic character. One of the significant milestones was the visit of Jan Hamáček, Speaker of the Chamber of Deputies of the Czech Parliament, to Uzbekistan in February 2017, which provided an additional impetus to the development of parliamentary ties.

In subsequent years, interaction continued through mutual visits and consultations. The establishment of Inter-parliamentary Cooperation Groups in 2025 marked a qualitatively new stage in the institutionalization of cooperation.

Alongside the parliamentary level, inter-departmental cooperation is actively developing, covering a wide range of sectors, including economy, industry, agriculture, healthcare and education.

A key role in this area is played by the Uzbek-Czech Intergovernmental Commission on Economic, Industrial, Scientific, and Technical Cooperation, the tenth meeting of which was held on March 18th, 2025, in Prague.

Trade and economic interaction between Uzbekistan and the Czech Republic serves as one of the key areas of bilateral relations, reflecting the mutual interest of the parties in expanding practical cooperation and deepening industrial cooperation. Mutual trade is carried out under the most-favored-nation (MFN) treatment provided for by the agreements between Uzbekistan and the European Union.

The dynamics of mutual trade in recent years have been fluctuating but generally show an upward trend. After a decline in figures during 2021–2022, a steady recovery has been observed. While bilateral trade turnover stood at USD 184.8 million in 2022, it increased to USD 344.2 million in 2023 and by the end of 2024, it reached USD 434.7 million.

Uzbekistan’s exports primarily consist of services, manufactured goods, finished products, food items, and chemical products. In turn, imports from the Czech Republic are dominated by machinery and transport equipment, chemical products and manufactured goods.

The practical dimension of economic cooperation is reflected in the activities of joint ventures. In recent years, Uzbekistan has seen a steady trend toward an increasing number of companies with Czech capital investment, including enterprises with 100% foreign ownership. This testifies to the growing interest of Czech investors in the Uzbek market and the favourable conditions for doing business.

Cultural cooperation is characterized by the regular participation of Czech creative groups in international events held in Uzbekistan. Czech musical ensembles traditionally take part in the “Sharq Taronalari” International Music Festival in Samarkand. A significant contribution to the development of cultural dialogue has been made by performances of Czech jazz bands at international jazz festivals in Tashkent, organized with the support of UNESCO.

Theatrical and literary exchange holds a special place in the bilateral relationship. A notable example of integrating Czech literary heritage into the cultural landscape of Uzbekistan was the 2016 production based on Jaroslav Hašek’s novel The Fateful Adventures of the Good Soldier Švejk at the Ilkhom Theater in Tashkent. This was further complemented in 2022 by an evening of Czech classical and contemporary music and poetry held in the capital.

The sphere of education and science stands as one of the most dynamically evolving areas of cooperation. Sustainable partnerships have been established between the leading universities of both nations, facilitating the implementation of joint educational programs and collaborative research projects.

Since 1997, Government of the Czech Republic has consistently provided annual scholarships to citizens of Uzbekistan for studies at higher education institutions. In parallel, there has been a steady positive trend in academic mobility: while approximately 350 students from Uzbekistan were studying in the Czech Republic in 2020, this figure reached an estimated 650–700 students by 2025. The primary fields of study include engineering, economics, agriculture and IT.

Specialized exhibitions have served as an additional tool for promoting educational opportunities, including the “Study in English in the Czech Republic” series of events held in 2023 across various cities in Uzbekistan, featuring leading Czech universities.

The Czech-Uzbek Friendship Society in Prague, established in 2011, plays a vital role in developing humanitarian ties. The organization's activities are focused on conducting cultural, scientific and educational events that foster mutual interest and expand contacts between the public representatives of both nations.

The current state of Uzbek-Czech relations is characterized by steady progress across all key areas - ranging from political dialogue and inter-parliamentary cooperation to trade, economic, and cultural-humanitarian engagement.

Amidst the current global agenda, Tashkent and Prague demonstrate a commitment to deepening a mutually beneficial partnership based on pragmatism, mutual respect, and consideration of each other's interests. The further strengthening of Uzbek-Czech ties will contribute not only to the development of bilateral relations but also to the expansion of Uzbekistan's engagement with the European direction as a whole.

In this context, the upcoming visit of the Prime Minister of the Czech Republic, Andrej Babiš, to Uzbekistan is regarded as a pivotal stage in the further deepening of practical cooperation. It is expected that the outcomes of the visit will provide additional impetus to the implementation of joint projects, primarily in industry, energy, agriculture and the transport and logistics sectors.

 Dunyo IA