Tashkent, Aug 31:
India and Uzbekistan on Sunday elevated their relationship to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership and agreed to work towards a long-term framework for uranium supplies, while setting an ambitious target of $5 billion in bilateral trade by 2030.
The decisions were taken during Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s talks with Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev in Tashkent during Modi’s two-day visit to the Central Asian nation.
The elevation of ties marks a significant expansion of the strategic relationship between the two countries, which this year completes 15 years.
Modi said the new partnership would be guided by concrete goals and an ambitious agenda aimed at delivering faster results.
Energy cooperation emerged as one of the important areas of discussion, with Modi announcing that the two countries would establish a long-term arrangement for uranium supply to India.
The development is significant for India’s nuclear energy programme and its efforts to diversify sources of uranium required for civilian nuclear power generation.
The two sides also set a target of increasing bilateral trade to $5 billion by 2030.
Modi and Mirziyoyev discussed cooperation across a wide range of sectors, including trade and investment, infrastructure, critical minerals, mining, defence and security, innovation, agriculture, pharmaceuticals, healthcare, information technology, digital public infrastructure and education.
The leaders also agreed to strengthen institutional mechanisms for implementing the new partnership.
A Coordination Council at the foreign ministers’ level will be established to guide bilateral cooperation, while the existing joint commission will be elevated from the secretary level to the ministerial level.
India and Uzbekistan also plan to jointly organise a business summit involving companies and business leaders from both countries.
Mirziyoyev said Uzbekistan was keen to expand cooperation with India in areas including energy, culture, critical minerals, pharmaceuticals, jewellery and agriculture.
The Uzbek President said roadmaps would be prepared for different sectors, with officials from both countries working on specific objectives.
The two countries have increasingly sought to deepen their engagement as India expands its strategic and economic footprint in Central Asia.
The new Comprehensive Strategic Partnership is expected to provide a broader framework for cooperation in energy, trade, defence, connectivity and emerging technologies.