AKIPRESS.COM - President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev and President of France Emmanuel Macron signed a joint declaration establishing a strategic partnership. The document was signed on March 12 as part of the visit of head of state to Paris, the presidential press service reported.

The talks took place at the Élysée Palace in narrow and expanded formats. The cooperation between Uzbekistan and France in different sectors was discussed. In particular, the sides focused on economic relations. Bilateral trade between Uzbekistan and France surpassed €1 billion for the first time in 2024, and the number of joint ventures has quadrupled. A new Innovation and Industrial Partnership Program has been introduced, with planned investments totaling €6.5 billion in key sectors, including mineral extraction, energy, and infrastructure.

The portfolio of joint projects exceeds €12 billion.

Relations at the regional level are actively developing. Events with the participation of delegates from Uzbekistan are taking place in Paris, Toulouse, Lyon and Nice  these days. In particular, they include a medical forum, a conference on science and education, a presentation of the tourism potential of the Central Asian state. A bust of the scientist Abu Rayhan al-Biruni was unveiled in Gretz-Armenville city. In order to continue cooperation, the parties agreed to hold the first Forum of Regions of the two states in Samarkand next year.

Following the talks between Mirziyoyev and Macron, a number of documents were signed, including an intergovernmental agreement on the establishment of the Uzbek-French University, an intergovernmental agreement on readmission, a cooperation program for the ministries of foreign affairs for 2025-2026, a cooperation program with the French Development Agency for 2026-2030, a declaration on cooperation within the framework of international organizations, a declaration on cooperation in the field of healthcare, a protocol on expanding the teaching of the French language, a-declaration on cooperation in the fields of music, cinema and theater, cooperation agreements between the Foundation for the Development of Culture and Art with the Ministry of Culture, the National Institute of Cultural Heritage of France and the French Institute for Central Asian Studies, and protocol on the establishment of partnership relations between the cities of Tashkent and Paris.

The President of Uzbekistan also held a meeting with representatives of the French business community. The event was attended by heads of large companies and financial institutions, such as Veolia, Total, Voltalia, Airbus, and Orano. Many of these corporations are already operating in the Central Asian country.

To strengthen partnerships, Mirziyoyev proposed establishing a permanent joint Investment Council.

"The Uzbek side will be headed by the Prime Minister of Uzbekistan. We can hold the first meeting in June as part of the Tashkent International Investment Forum," the President said.

Later, a ceremony was held to award Mirziyoyev with the Legion of Honor, the highest award in France, which Macron presented to his colleague. 

An exchange of gifts took place. The President of France presented the guest with a photo taken by photographer Paul Nadar at the end of the 19th century. It depicts the Tamerlane Gate - a gorge near Samarkand, in Jizzakh region - Mirziyoyev's small homeland. The President of Uzbekistan, in turn, presented Macron with the first copy of Victor Hugo's novel "The Man Who Laughs" translated into Uzbek language.