Uzbekistan and Bulgaria plan to host a joint week of culture and cinema in 2026, stressing a new phase in their expanding bilateral partnership. The announcement followed high-level talks between President Shavkat Mirziyoyev and Bulgarian President Rumen Radev, held at the Kuksaroy residence in Tashkent.
The summit, the first between the two nations in 17 years, marked a historic step toward strengthening political, economic, and humanitarian ties.
During the meeting, both leaders reaffirmed their commitment to expanding cooperation in key sectors, including trade, technology, agriculture, and education. President Mirziyoyev emphasized the importance of the summit, stating it would elevate Uzbek-Bulgarian relations to a qualitatively new level.
Recent efforts to enhance intergovernmental and inter-parliamentary dialogue were praised, along with growing trade turnover and emerging joint projects. The two sides highlighted the importance of establishing direct contacts between foreign ministries to support a more systematic approach to bilateral cooperation.
A major focus of the talks was trade diversification. Plans include expanding exports of textiles, food products, chemicals, pharmaceuticals, metal goods, and industrial equipment. To support this, the two countries agreed to open trading houses in Tashkent and Sofia, accredited laboratories, and allocate preferential credit lines.
Cooperation in advanced sectors such as artificial intelligence, IT, and digital technology was also prioritized. Joint projects in the agro-industrial complex, geology, and pharmaceuticals were identified as new areas of mutual interest.
The leaders discussed improving connectivity through efficient land and air transport corridors, including the possibility of launching direct flights. They also considered opening a representative office of Uzbekistan’s Migration Agency in Sofia to manage labor mobility and workforce cooperation.
In the education and cultural sectors, initiatives such as academic and scientific exchanges were endorsed. A meeting of university rectors is scheduled to take place in Andijan this year. The planned 2026 week of Uzbek and Bulgarian culture and cinema is expected to further enrich people-to-people ties.
To ensure the implementation of these initiatives, the sides agreed to adopt a joint “road map” and raise the status of the Intergovernmental Commission by involving heads of regions and major companies.
President Radev invited President Mirziyoyev to pay an official visit to Bulgaria, signaling a shared commitment to deepening long-term cooperation.
Follow Daryo's official Instagram and Twitter pages to keep current on world news.
Comments (0)