India and Uzbekistan Sign Nine Agreements to Strengthen Strategic Partnership

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Uzbekistan President Shavkat Mirziyoyev have expressed their continued commitment to take India-Uzbekistan strategic partnership to a new and higher level. A Joint Statement issued yesterday after the virtual Summit held between the two leaders said, India and Uzbekistan have agreed to work towards an early conclusion of Bilateral Investment Treaty to facilitate investment promotion and protection for further improvement of trade and economic cooperation. The Indian side confirmed the approval of a 448 million US dollar Line of Credit to be extended by India for four developmental projects in Uzbekistan in the fields of road construction, sewerage treatment and information technology. The Indian side reiterated its commitment to further deepen the development partnership between India and Uzbekistan, including under the framework of India-Central Asia dialogue. The Uzbek side conveyed its desire to explore the possibility of implementing priority developmental projects in Uzbekistan as part of the one billion US dollar Line of Credit offered by India for Central Asian countries during the second meeting of the India-Central Asia Dialogue.

Noting the importance of a safe and secure regional environment for development and prosperity, the two sides agreed to cooperate in addressing threats and challenges to national as well as regional security. Both sides agreed to further strengthen cooperation between the law enforcement agencies and special services of the two countries, including



under the framework of the Uzbekistan-India Joint Working Group on Counter-Terrorism. The leaders strongly condemned terrorism in all its forms and manifestations and reaffirmed the determination of their countries to combat this menace by destroying terrorist safe-havens, networks, infrastructure and funding channels. They also emphasized on the need for every country to ensure that its territory is not used to launch terrorist attacks against other countries. Both sides also called for an early finalization of a Comprehensive Convention on International Terrorism.  The leaders noted that establishment of peace and stability in Afghanistan is of great importance to the security and stability of the entire region. They called for the settlement of the Afghan conflict on the principle of Afghan-led, Afghan-owned, and Afghan-controlled peace process.

Both sides agreed to strengthen their cooperation, including through mutual support, in the United Nations and other international and regional organizations. They called for comprehensive reform of the UN structures including the Security Council with expansion in both categories of membership. Uzbekistan reaffirmed its support to India’s candidature for permanent membership of the UN Security Council.

Earlier, India and Uzbekistan signed nine Agreements and Memorandum of Understandings, MoUs in various areas including in the field of Solar Energy, Digital Technologies and on High Impact Community Development Projects (HICDP).