Uzbekistan FM Saidov Bakhtiyor Odilovich calls on President Droupadi Murmu during official visit to New Delhi
New Delhi, August 3
Uzbekistan's Foreign Affairs Minister Saidov Bakhtiyor Odilovich on Monday called on President Droupadi Murmu at Rashtrapati Bhavan during his official visit to New Delhi.
During the interaction, both leaders emphasised that the high-level visit provides an important opportunity to identify fresh avenues of bilateral cooperation and further strengthen the mutually beneficial partnership across diverse sectors, including trade, energy, and cultural exchange.
According to Rashtrapati Bhavan, the discussion reaffirmed the commitment of both countries to expand strategic ties and foster closer economic and people-to-people connections.
"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 civilizational 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," the post on X read.
Uzbekistan's Foreign Minister Bakhtiyor Saidov arrived in New Delhi for a high-level official visit to India spanning from August 2 to 5.
Welcoming Saidov, the Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal wrote in a post on X, "A very warm welcome to Foreign Minister Bakhtiyor Saidov @FM_Saidov of Uzbekistan on his arrival in New Delhi for an official visit."The Uzbek Foreign Minister's itinerary features crucial diplomatic engagements and economic discussions aimed at further cementing the strategic partnership between India and Uzbekistan.
According to the MEA, later this morning, Saidov is slated to participate in a special Business Forum in the capital.
Concluding the day's major political talks, he will hold an official bilateral meeting with India's External Affairs Minister, S Jaishankar, at Hyderabad House.
The itinerary features dedicated programming across New Delhi on Tuesday, August 4, ahead of the Minister's scheduled departure from the capital on Wednesday, August 5.
The four-day visit builds on a series of recent high-level exchanges between New Delhi and Tashkent, designed to deepen cooperation across trade, investment, energy, and security.
According to MEA, the protocol on establishment of diplomatic relations between India and Uzbekistan was signed in Tashkent on 18 March 1992. India and Uzbekistan declared their Strategic Partnership in 2011.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Uzbekistan President Shavkat Mirziyoyev last met briefly in September 2025 on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summit in Tianjin, China.
India is among the top 10 trade partners of Uzbekistan, with bilateral trade of USD 756.60 million (as per Uzbek statistics-2023), which is well below potential.
— ANI
Reader Comments
Our cultural ties with Uzbekistan go back centuries, from the Mughal era to the Silk Road. It's heartening to see this relationship being revived with modern strategic partnerships. Hope the trade numbers grow beyond the current USD 756 million—it's honestly quite low given the potential.
While diplomatic visits are always welcome, I hope we focus more on concrete outcomes rather than just photo-ops and statements. Trade of under a billion dollars is negligible for two large economies. Need more action on the ground, better connectivity through Chabahar or INSTC, and faster clearances for Indian businesses.
Nice to see Rashtrapati Ji hosting foreign dignitaries. The mention of ancient trade routes is spot on—we share so much history with Samarkand and Bukhara. It's time we turned this cultural affinity into a robust economic corridor. Mulakatein achhi hui, ab kaam aage badhna chahiye! 👍
The SCO meeting between PM Modi and President Mirziyoyev last year clearly set the stage for this visit. Central Asia is crucial for India's energy security and regional connectivity. However, I do wonder why our trade with Uzbekistan remains so low despite the strategic partnership declared back in 2011. We need to address the logistical bottlenecks seriously.
In a world where China is expanding its footprint in Central Asia, India cannot afford to lag behind. Uzbekistan is a natural partner with no conflicts of interest. More business forums, more cultural exchanges, and definitely more direct flights between Delhi and Tashkent would help boost people-to-people ties. 🇮🇳🇺🇿