PM Narendra Modi elevates India-Uzbekistan ties to comprehensive strategic partnership, announces long-term uranium supply framework

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday announced that India and Uzbekistan will elevate their ties to a comprehensive strategic partnership and establish a long-term arrangement for the supply of uranium, as New Delhi seeks to deepen cooperation with the Central Asian nation in strategic sectors.

Modi made the announcements during his delegation-level talks with Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev in Tashkent, where he is on a two-day visit aimed at strengthening bilateral cooperation in areas including trade, clean energy and connectivity.

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"We are celebrating the 15th anniversary of our strategic partnership. I am delighted that, on this special occasion, we are elevating our ties to the level of a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership," Modi said in his opening remarks.

"We will move forward by setting concrete goals within this framework," he said in Hindi.

Modi said the two sides had also held "productive talks" over dinner on Saturday and taken several important decisions to further strengthen bilateral ties.

"We had a productive discussion over dinner last night and took several important decisions."

As part of the upgraded partnership, Modi said India and Uzbekistan will establish a Coordination Council at the level of foreign ministers to provide strategic direction to bilateral cooperation.

"We will establish a Coordination Council at the level of foreign ministers to provide direction to all aspects of our cooperation through close coordination," Modi said.

The two countries will also elevate their existing joint commission from the secretary level to the ministerial level, he said.

Modi further announced plans for greater business-to-business engagement, saying the two sides will jointly organise a business summit bringing together business leaders from India and Uzbekistan.

"We will also establish a long-term arrangement for the supply of uranium," he said.

Also Read: India, Uzbekistan agree to deepen cooperation in trade, defence, energy, digital connectivity

India has been looking at procuring uranium from Uzbekistan for civilian nuclear power generation, making the proposed long-term supply arrangement significant for New Delhi's efforts to secure fuel for its expanding nuclear energy programme.

Modi arrived in Tashkent on Saturday for his visit, with the two sides seeking to expand cooperation across a range of areas and give fresh momentum to their strategic partnership.

During the visit, Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev also conferred Uzbekistan's supreme state award, the Order of "Oliy Darajali Dustlik", on Modi.

The two leaders also held delegation-level talks in Tashkent as part of efforts to further deepen India-Uzbekistan relations.

During the talks, Prime Minister Narendra Modi thanked Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev for personally overseeing the arrangements for the dinner hosted for him on Saturday, including cultural performances by local children.

"I am especially grateful for the experience you curated for me during the meal yesterday; you were personally involved in every detail. Along with the delicious food, I also had the pleasure of witnessing songs and dances performed by talented children. It felt as though you had brought India itself to life here, as if you had awakened the spirit of my own Gujarat right here. Moreover, you adorned the entire city in the colours of the Indian tricolour. That, too, was truly touching. All of this demonstrates just how close India is to your heart," PM Modi said.

Modi also extended his advance greetings to Uzbekistan and its people ahead of the country's 35th Independence Day, while highlighting the 15th anniversary of the India-Uzbekistan strategic partnership.

"In two days, you will mark the 35th anniversary of your Independence Day. I extend my advance congratulations and best wishes to you and the people of Uzbekistan on this occasion. It is a happy coincidence that this year we are also celebrating the 15th anniversary of our strategic partnership. I am delighted that, on this special occasion, we are elevating our ties to the level of a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership. We will move forward by setting concrete goals within this framework," he said.

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The prime minister also welcomed Mirziyoyev's initiative to identify projects in key sectors to strengthen bilateral economic ties and lay down timelines for their implementation.

"I saw your book, in which you have identified projects across key sectors to advance our bilateral economic partnership and outlined a timeline for the way forward. I appreciate this initiative. I am confident that, by working together, we will make rapid progress on this," PM Modi said.

Modi said the two sides had taken several important decisions during their dinner meeting on Saturday and that officials from both countries were aligned on the way forward.

"We had a productive discussion over dinner last night and took several important decisions. Our teams are also aligned on these matters. We will establish a Coordination Council at the Foreign Minister level to provide direction to all aspects of our cooperation through close coordination. We will elevate our Joint Commission from the Secretary level to the Ministerial level. Both sides will jointly organise a business summit featuring business leaders from both nations," he said.