Uzbekistan, Italy highlight economic cooperation, cultural ties

By Burc Eruygur

ISTANBUL (AA) - Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev highlighted his country’s economic cooperation and cultural ties with Italy during an official visit on Thursday to the capital Rome at the invitation of his Italian counterpart Sergio Mattarella.

“The heads of state considered issues of economic cooperation. In recent years, mutual trade and the number of joint ventures have doubled. Leading Italian companies such as Pietro Fiorentini, Terra-nova, Danieli, Imagro, Ansaldo, Saipem and others successfully operate in our country,” the Uzbek presidency said in a statement following a meeting between Mirziyoyev and Mattarella at the Quirinal Palace.

The statement said the two leaders welcomed the results of an Uzbek-Italian business forum held the day before, which resulted in the signing of numerous agreements and contracts worth over €9 billion ($9.7 billion).

It further said that the meeting between the two presidents paid particular attention to the development of humanitarian ties between Uzbekistan and Italy, noting that an agreement was reached to hold an exhibition of the cultural and historical heritage of Uzbekistan in Italy.

“In addition, prospects for cooperation in the field of education, archeology and interaction in the field of environmental challenges were discussed in detail,” the statement said.

It added that Mirziyoyev and Mattarella exchanged views on regional and international issues, primarily with regards to the situation in Afghanistan, during which “the importance of continuing targeted humanitarian assistance to the Afghan people as well as holding regular consultations of special representatives was emphasized.”

Mirziyoyev later held a meeting with Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni at the Chigi Palace, during which Italy was underlined as “an important and reliable partner of Uzbekistan in Europe,” according to a separate statement by the Uzbek presidency.

The statement said Uzbekistan and Italy were noted to have been cooperating in political, security, economic, energy, cultural and humanitarian spheres in recent years, further saying that Mirziyoyev’s visit is the beginning of a “new important stage” in the further development of multifaceted cooperation between Uzbekistan and Italy.

“Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni expressed her full support for the irreversible democratic reforms and economic reforms being implemented in New Uzbekistan and believed in their success,” the statement said, adding that they highlighted the further expansion of trade and economic cooperation as the main task in bilateral relations. ​​​​​​​