Uzbekistan: Ponte Sud – Anita Bosman
At the Kuksaroy residence, negotiations were held between President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev and President of Bulgaria Rumen Radev with the participation of official delegations from both sides.
The talks focused on key issues surrounding the further development of practical cooperation between Uzbekistan and Bulgaria.
President Mirziyoyev warmly welcomed the Bulgarian leader and noted that this first summit in 17 years holds historic significance and will elevate the Uzbekistan–Bulgaria friendship and partnership to a new qualitative level.
It was noted with satisfaction that cooperation between the parliaments, economic bodies, and foreign ministries of both countries has intensified.
Trade turnover is growing, and new directions and projects for cooperation are being developed.
Humanitarian exchanges are underway, and sister-city relations have been established between Bukhara and Varna, as well as Samarkand and Plovdiv.
To further strengthen multifaceted cooperation, both sides emphasized the importance of establishing systematic contacts between foreign policy agencies.
Particular attention was given to expanding trade, especially in the supply of textiles, food products, chemicals and pharmaceuticals, metal goods, and technological equipment.
To stimulate trade growth, the parties agreed to open trade houses in the capitals, accredit laboratories, and allocate preferential credit lines.
Priority was given to promoting joint projects in agriculture and food industries, pharmaceuticals, geology, artificial intelligence, digital technologies and IT, and tourism.
The development of efficient ground and air transport corridors was also discussed. In this regard, the two sides agreed to explore the possibility of launching direct flights between Uzbekistan and Bulgaria.
To establish systematic cooperation in the field of labor resources, the possibility of opening a representative office of Uzbekistan’s Migration Agency in Sofia is under consideration.
Both sides supported initiatives to strengthen humanitarian ties, including academic and scientific exchanges, and welcomed the upcoming meeting of rectors from leading higher education institutions in Andijan later this year.
It was also agreed to organize Uzbekistan–Bulgaria Culture and Cinema Week next year.
To ensure systematic oversight of the implementation of the reached agreements, the parties agreed to adopt a joint “road map,” raise the level of co-chairs of the Intergovernmental Commission, and involve regional leaders and major companies in its work.
At the conclusion of the meeting, President Rumen Radev invited President Shavkat Mirziyoyev to pay a return visit to Bulgaria at a convenient time.
Following the talks, Shavkat Mirziyoyev and Rumen Radev signed a joint declaration on expanding bilateral cooperation.
In the presence of the two leaders, bilateral documents were exchanged, including the Cooperation Program between the Ministries of Foreign Affairs for 2026–2027 and an agreement establishing a partnership between the cities of Tashkent and Sofia.
