Uzbekistan’s Foreign Minister Bakhtiyor Saidov on Monday called on President Droupadi Murmu at Rashtrapati Bhavan, with both sides discussing ways to expand bilateral cooperation and identify new areas of partnership.
During the meeting, President Murmu highlighted the deep historical, cultural and civilisational links between India and Uzbekistan, rooted in centuries-old trade routes and people-to-people connections.
In a post on X, the President’s Secretariat wrote: “Mr Saidov Bakhtiyor Odilovich, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Uzbekistan, called on President Droupadi Murmu at Rashtrapati Bhavan. The President said that both countries share deep historical, cultural, and civilisational ties, rooted in ancient trade routes. The two leaders agreed that this visit provides an opportunity to identify new areas of bilateral cooperation and deepen our mutually beneficial partnership across diverse sectors.”
Saidov arrived in New Delhi on August 2 for a four-day official visit aimed at further strengthening bilateral ties between India and Uzbekistan.
As part of his engagements, the Uzbek Foreign Minister is scheduled to participate in a Business Forum in New Delhi and hold bilateral talks with External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar at Hyderabad House.
The visit comes amid continued efforts by both countries to deepen strategic ties. India and Uzbekistan established diplomatic relations in March 1992, and the partnership was elevated to a Strategic Partnership in 2011.
To further boost investment flows, India and Uzbekistan signed a Bilateral Investment Treaty (BIT) in September 2024, which came into effect in May 2025.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Uzbekistan President Shavkat Mirziyoyev last held a meeting on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summit in Tianjin, China, in September 2025.
Economic cooperation remains a key pillar of India-Uzbekistan relations. According to the Commerce Ministry, bilateral trade between the two countries reached around USD 1.3 billion in 2025, reflecting growing economic engagement. However, both sides see significant potential to further expand trade and investment ties across sectors.
The ongoing visit is expected to provide fresh momentum to cooperation in trade, connectivity, investment and other areas of mutual interest.
