Uzbekistan and Serbia have elevated their bilateral ties to a strategic partnership level following talks between President Shavkat Mirziyoyev and Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić in Belgrade.
The two leaders signed a Joint Declaration on the Establishment of Strategic Partnership Relations, marking a new stage in cooperation between the countries. During the visit, the sides exchanged a series of bilateral agreements and documents covering key areas including trade, transport, energy, agriculture, technology and cultural cooperation.
The agreements include the creation of a working group to begin negotiations on a Free Trade Agreement, as well as cooperation in international road transport, labour migration, customs, renewable energy, green technologies, pharmaceuticals, biotechnology, tourism and cultural exchange.
The two countries also agreed to strengthen cooperation in supporting the Middle Corridor, railway infrastructure development, economic diplomacy, information and communication technologies, digitalisation, e-government, environmental protection and cinematography. A separate agreement established partnership relations between Uzbekistan’s Samarkand region and Serbia’s Autonomous Province of Vojvodina.
As part of the official visit, Vučić awarded Mirziyoyev Serbia’s highest state honour — the Order of the Republic of Serbia with the Grand Chain. The award was presented in recognition of Mirziyoyev’s contribution to strengthening multifaceted relations between Uzbekistan and Serbia.
Mirziyoyev expressed gratitude for the honor, describing it as a symbol of the Serbian people’s respect for Uzbekistan and the countries’ growing friendship and cooperation.
The Order of the Republic of Serbia is awarded to foreign leaders and distinguished figures for contributions to peace, cooperation, mutual understanding and the development of friendly relations with Serbia.
The visit also included a ceremony to rename one of Belgrade’s streets as “Tashkent”. The leaders noted that the move reflects the rapid development of Uzbek-Serbian relations, which have reached the level of strategic partnership, and expressed confidence that Tashkent Street would serve as a symbol of friendship and closer ties between the two nations.
Earlier, Uzbekistan and Serbia held the first meeting of their Intergovernmental Commission on Economic Cooperation in Belgrade, where the sides agreed to launch negotiations on a Free Trade Agreement and signed a Joint Action Plan for Industrial Partnership for 2026–2028, covering trade, investment, industry, transport, technology and regional cooperation.
Bilateral trade between Uzbekistan and Serbia reached €37.7mn ($41.8mn) in 2025, rising 27% from the previous year, with Serbia exporting industrial goods and construction materials to Uzbekistan and importing cotton and other products from Uzbekistan.
