Shavkat Mirziyoyev and Emmanuel Macron. Photo: Press Service of the President of Uzbekistan
Uzbekistan and France have formalized their relationship by signing a Joint Declaration on establishing a strategic partnership. The document was signed on March 12 during Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev’s state visit to Paris, according to his press service.
The two leaders held discussions at the Élysée Palace in both private and extended formats, focusing on cooperation in various fields. Economic ties were a key point of discussion. Last year, bilateral trade exceeded €1 billion for the first time, and the number of joint ventures increased fourfold. Investment and financial cooperation remain a priority, with the visit bringing forth a Program for Innovation and Industrial Partnership, outlining joint projects worth €6.5 billion. These initiatives cover critical mineral extraction and processing, energy, infrastructure development, and transportation, among other sectors.
Overall, the portfolio of joint projects now exceeds €12 billion.
Regional cooperation is also expanding. This week, Uzbek delegations are participating in events in Paris, Toulouse, Lyon, and Nice, including a medical forum, a science and education conference, and a presentation on Uzbekistan’s tourism potential. In the town of Gretz-Armainvilliers, a bust of the scholar Abu Rayhan al-Biruni was unveiled. To further strengthen ties, the two sides agreed to hold the first Uzbekistan-France Regional Forum in Samarkand next
Following the negotiations, Mirziyoyev and Macron oversaw the signing of several agreements, including:
✅ An intergovernmental agreement on establishing the Uzbek-French University.
✅ An intergovernmental agreement on readmission.
✅ A cooperation program between the foreign ministries for 2025–2026.
✅ A cooperation program with the French Development Agency for 2026–2030.
✅ A declaration on cooperation within international organizations.
✅ A declaration on cooperation in healthcare.
✅ A protocol on expanding French language instruction.
✅ A declaration on cooperation in music, film, and theater.
✅ Agreements between Uzbekistan’s Fund for the Development of Culture and Art and France’s Ministry of Culture, National Institute of Cultural Heritage, and the French Institute for Central Asian Studies.
✅ A protocol establishing a partnership between the cities of Tashkent and Paris.
Mirziyoyev also met with leading French business figures, including executives from Veolia, Total, Voltalia, Airbus, and Orano, many of which already have operations in Uzbekistan. To strengthen economic collaboration, he proposed creating a permanent Uzbekistan-France Investment Council.
“The Prime Minister of Uzbekistan will chair the council on our side. The first meeting could take place as early as June during the Tashkent International Investment Forum,” Mirziyoyev stated.
Later, Mirziyoyev was awarded the Legion of Honor, France’s highest distinction, which was presented by Macron in recognition of his contributions to strengthening bilateral relations and fostering mutual understanding between the two nations.
During the visit, the two leaders exchanged gifts. Macron presented Mirziyoyev with a rare 19th-century photograph by Paul Nadar, depicting Tamerlane’s Gate—a mountain pass near Samarkand, located in the Uzbek president’s home region of Jizzakh. In return, Mirziyoyev gifted Macron the first Uzbek translation of Victor Hugo’s novel The Man Who Laughs.
The visit concluded with a reception at the Élysée Palace on the evening of March 12. In his speech, the Uzbek leader expressed gratitude to Macron and his wife for their hospitality, emphasizing the historic significance of the negotiations, which have elevated bilateral relations to a strategic partnership.
Macron also highlighted the deepening long-term cooperation between the two countries.
“As proof of this, I can point to the fact that, with the support of the French government and the French Development Agency, our companies are investing in Uzbekistan, creating added value and jobs in the regions, and helping young people acquire professions and secure their future,” Macron concluded.
