Uzbekistan and Italy strengthen strategic partnership

At the invitation of the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev, the Prime Minister of the Italian Republic Giorgia Meloni arrived on May 28 on an official visit to our country.

At the international airport of Samarkand, the Prime Minister was met by the head of our state.

In honor of the distinguished guest, the national flags of the two countries were raised and a guard of honor was formed.

The main events of the visit will take place on May 29.

In accordance with the program of the stay, it is provided holding high-level negotiations and a number of other bilateral events.

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Upon arrival in our country on an official visit, the Prime Minister of the Italian Republic Giorgia Meloni, accompanied by the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev, visited the Registan architectural ensemble.

The world-famous Registan Square, included in the UNESCO World Heritage List, is the main calling card of our country, reflecting the creative potential of our great ancestors. The madrasahs of Mirzo Ulugbek, Sherdor and Tillakori, which are part of the ensemble, with their scale, rich history and unique architecture, make a deep impression on the guests of our country.

The distinguished guest was familiarized in detail with the historical facts of the construction of this pearl of oriental architecture, the features of architectural solutions and decor, significant events and personalities associated with this place, as well as the cultural heritage of the Uzbek people.

Next, the leaders visited the historical and ethnographic park “Eternal City” in the international tourist center “Silk Road Samarkand”. Exhibitions were examined that revealed the rich cultural heritage of our people, handicrafts and applied arts. A cultural program of performances by choreographic groups is presented.

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The official welcoming ceremony of the Prime Minister of the Italian Republic Giorgi Meloni, who is making an official visit to our country, took place in the city of Samarkand.

A building was built on the square in front of the Congress Center building guard of honor.

The President of the Republic of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev warmly welcomed the distinguished guest and invited her to the pedestal.

The military orchestra performed the anthems of the two countries. The leaders walked around the guard of honor and greeted members of the official delegations.

Then negotiations began at the highest level.

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Negotiations between the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev and Prime Minister of the Italian Republic Giorgi Meloni in a tete-a-tete format and with the participation of official delegations.

Issues of further development of bilateral strategic partnership relations and expansion of multifaceted cooperation were considered.

The consistent implementation of the agreements reached during the summit meetings in Rome in June 2023 was noted with satisfaction year.

Trade turnover in recent years has increased almost 3 times, including due to the expansion of the range of mutual supplies.

The number of joint ventures and projects has doubled. Mutually beneficial cooperation has been established with leading Italian companies in the field of metallurgy, electrical engineering, agriculture, livestock farming, tourism and other areas.

The Uzbek delegation took an active part in the Biennale in Venice, and an exhibition was held in Florence. Last December, the Days of Culture of Uzbekistan were held in Rome and Viareggio.

Branches of the Universities of Turin and Pisa are successfully operating in our country. In April, the second Forum of Rectors was fruitfully held.

The parties advocated the continuation of active political exchange.

Active interaction with the institutions of the European Union will continue, taking into account the fruitful summit in Samarkand in April this year. The importance of holding the Central Asia–Italy summit with a focus on practical results was emphasized.

An agreement was reached to expand technical assistance programs for businesses in the trade sector. We are talking about training Uzbek exporters to enter the EU market, creating a joint Certification Center in Tashkent, accelerating the adoption of the Conformity Assessment Agreement.

The head of our state proposed launching a Technology Partnership Program with leading Italian companies.

Innovative projects of private business, deep processing of critical minerals and agricultural raw materials, production component base for the automotive industry, high value-added products in electrical engineering, energy, food, pharmaceutical, construction industries, creation of design centers for textile, leather, furniture and other industries.

Such projects can be located in an industrial park specially created in the Tashkent region under the management of a European operator.

To launch new mechanisms for supporting projects, the issue of creating a joint investment fund will be considered, as well as attracting Italian government agencies "SACE" and "SIMEST".

Special attention is paid to the development of a full-scale scientific and technological cooperation in agriculture based on a comprehensive road map. Prospects for cooperation in the cultivation of grapes, saffron olives, asparagus, the creation of agricultural laboratories, the development of biotechnology and the introduction of agricultural insurance were noted.

To promote new projects, it was agreed to resume the work of the Intergovernmental Group and hold its meeting with the business forum.

As part of the expansion of partnerships between regions Uzbekistan and Italy emphasized the importance of achieving practical results during the upcoming visit of the Governor of Lombardy Attilio Fontana and the first forum of regions.

In the educational sector, plans were supported to launch in our country a branch of the University of Tuscia, double degree programs with the universities of Pisa, Trento, Roma Tre and Ca' Foscari.

An agreement was reached to hold Days of Italian Culture in Uzbekistan.

The signing during the current visit of the Agreement in the field of labor migration, aimed at organizing systemic cooperation in this area, was noted with satisfaction.

Following the meeting, a decision was made to prepare a comprehensive “road map” for the implementation of the agreements reached.

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Following the results of negotiations held in the city of Samarkand, the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev and the Prime Minister of the Italian Republic Giorgia Meloni adopted a Joint Declaration on strengthening strategic partnership relations.

In their presence, a ceremony of exchange of signed documents also took place bilateral agreements, in particular:

- on the promotion and mutual protection of investments;

- on cooperation in the field of critical raw materials;

- on cooperation in the field of migration and mobility;

- on cooperation in the areas of sustainable development and environmental protection, as well as cultural heritage

- about interaction with the Climate Fund and the Italian Confederation of Agriculture, cooperation in the field of green development with the companies Sogesid and Ansaldo;

- about partnership with the universities of Tuscia, Pisa and Turin.

As part of the official visit there were also documents were signed with the National Center for Italian Research, the SIMEST and Danieli companies, the University of Perugia and others.

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Following the results of Uzbek-Italian high-level negotiations, a solemn ceremony of naming one of the streets of Samarkand after the city of Rome was held at the International Congress Center.

President of the Republic of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev stated that this decision was made taking into account deep historical and cultural ties, the current high level of strategic partnership relations, as well as a sign of friendship and mutual respect between the peoples of Uzbekistan and Italy.

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The President of the Republic of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev and the Prime Minister of the Italian Republic Giorgia Meloni visited the exhibition “Uzbekistan and Italy: Dialogue of Civilizations”, organized at the Congress Center of Samarkand.

Unique The exhibition is dedicated to the deep historical, scientific and cultural ties between the two countries. It consists of 9 thematic sections, including “Trade relations of the Roman and Kushan empires”, “First Renaissance”, “Marco Polo”, “Amir Temur”, “Mirzo Ulugbek” and “Mirzo Bobur”, “Italians in Uzbekistan in the 19th century”, “The contribution of Uzbekistan to the liberation of Italy in the Second World War”, “Uzbekistan and Italy: preservation of cultural heritage”.

Guests were presented with a unique reproduction of Afrosiab's fresco "Reception of Ambassadors by the Ruler of Samarkand", which opened the exhibition, made using the Florentine mosaic technique by the outstanding Italian master Mauro Pellizonni.

The leaders also got acquainted with various artifacts, graphic projections, manuscripts and miniatures, rare literary publications, sculptures, archival photographs and documents.

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The President of the Republic of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev and the Prime Minister of Italy Giorgia Meloni together planted an oak tree in the alley of the Congress Center.

The ceremony became a symbol of friendship between the peoples of the two countries, a firm commitment to the further development and strengthening of the Uzbek-Italian strategic partnership relations.

The program of the distinguished guest's stay continued with sightseeing in Samarkand.

The head of our state completed his trip to Samarkand and returned to Tashkent.

Official website of the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan