On March 11-13, President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev will pay a state visit to France at the invitation of President Emmanuel Macron.
France, a highly developed industrial and agricultural nation, holds a leading global position in industrial output. Its economic prowess places it among the world’s top seven economies. A nuclear power and a permanent member of the UN Security Council, France also plays a pivotal role within the European Union and on the broader international stage.
France recognized Uzbekistan’s independence on January 3, 1992, and diplomatic relations between the two countries were established on March 1, 1992. This burgeoning relationship was further cemented with the signing of the Treaty of Friendship and Cooperation on October 27, 1993.
The momentum of political dialogue and multifaceted cooperation has been notably strengthened through President Shavkat Mirziyoyev’s official visits to France in October 2018 and November 2022, as well as President Emmanuel Macron’s visit to Uzbekistan in November 2023.
During President Shavkat Mirziyoyev’s visit to Paris in November 2022, the two leaders committed to elevating their relationship to a comprehensive partnership of the highest level.
Uzbekistan-France collaboration spans a wide range of sectors at the interagency level. On November 2, 2023, in the presence of both presidents, a series of cooperation documents were signed, including agreements in education, cultural heritage, and drinking water infrastructure improvement.
Moreover, during the visit to Samarkand on November 2, 2023, the announcement was made regarding the intention to elevate bilateral relations to a strategic partnership. Discussions focused on fostering major new projects in “green” energy, raw material extraction and processing, innovative agriculture, water supply, logistics, infrastructure development, and tourism.
Inter-parliamentary cooperation thrives through delegation exchanges, the work of friendship groups in both parliaments, and participation in international events organized by inter-parliamentary unions and multilateral parliamentary bodies. This interaction fosters the sharing of experiences, the discussion of global and regional issues, and the strengthening of multilateral cooperation.
The Ministries of Foreign Affairs of Uzbekistan and France conduct regular political consultations, with the fifteenth round held on May 27, 2024. During these consultations, diplomats from both countries discuss the current state of Uzbek-French relations, the implementation of agreements reached during high-level reciprocal visits, and the expansion of the legal framework for cooperation. They also exchange views on international and regional issues, as well as the schedule and agenda for upcoming joint events at various levels.
Uzbekistan and France also engage in effective cooperation within international structures and organizations, including the United Nations and the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe. Both sides reaffirm their commitment to contributing to the strengthening of security, peace, and stability at the global and regional levels. France is prepared to further support Uzbekistan’s endeavors to enhance trust in Central Asia, its accession to the World Trade Organization, and the expedited signing of an Enhanced Partnership and Cooperation Agreement with the European Union.
Both nations share a mutual interest in bolstering trade, economic, and investment partnerships. The conducive business environment and investment prospects cultivated in Uzbekistan are attracting an increasing number of French businesses. In return, Uzbekistan is eager to attract French technologies and leverage advanced expertise in industrial and manufacturing sectors, as well as to expand mutual tourism exchanges. Uzbekistan’s attainment of beneficiary status under the European Union’s “GSP+” preferential system has unlocked new avenues for boosting trade and economic ties. In 2024, bilateral trade volume increased by nearly 14% compared to the previous year, reaching almost 1.2 billion US dollars. Currently, 50 enterprises with French participation operate in Uzbekistan, including 23 with 100% French capital.
World-class companies such as “Total Eren,” “Veolia,” “EDF,” “Orano,” “Lactalis,” “Carrefour,” and “Shiever” are actively operating in Uzbekistan within the fields of energy, geological exploration, the food industry, and retail. The French Development Agency (AFD) is involved in projects aimed at the development of urban infrastructure, the “green” economy, sanitation, hydropower, and agriculture in Uzbekistan. In November 2022, a Cooperation Program with the AFD for 2023-2025 was signed, providing for the implementation of projects totaling 1 billion euros.
The Uzbek-French business forum held in Samarkand in November 2023 and in Paris in May 2024, which brought together leaders from 60 French companies, along with the bilateral business forum with the Movement of the Enterprises of France (MEDEF International), and the agreements signed at their conclusion, have further underscored the strong mutual interest in expanding business cooperation.
The Intergovernmental Commission on Trade and Economic Cooperation plays a vital role in strengthening and expanding business relations. Its 10th session took place on June 4, 2024, in Paris. This platform facilitates dialogue to identify new mutually beneficial areas of partnership, discuss the prospects, and monitor the progress of joint projects.
Uzbekistan and France are committed to strengthening cultural and humanitarian cooperation, fostering intercultural dialogue, and collaborating in education, science, and healthcare. These efforts contribute to the enrichment of both cultures and the strengthening of friendly ties between the two nations.
A significant milestone in the history of Uzbek-French cultural cooperation was the opening of the exhibition “Treasures of the Oases of Uzbekistan. At the Crossroads of Caravan Routes” at the Louvre Museum in November 2022, which highlighted Uzbekistan’s rich cultural heritage. The exhibition, which ran until March 2023, featured 138 unique artifacts from 16 Uzbek museums, as well as 31 exhibits from major museums in France, the United Kingdom, and the United States. This exhibition, along with “The Road to Samarkand. Wonders of Silk and Gold” at the Arab World Institute, was highly successful and acclaimed by the French and international public.
Furthermore, in September 2023, the UNESCO headquarters in Paris hosted the opening ceremony of the new international exhibition project “Abu Rayhan Beruni: Geographical and Intellectual Journeys”, which attracted considerable attention from European audiences and underscored Uzbekistan’s profound scientific legacy.
Successful cooperation is evident in education and science, particularly in the study of French language and literature in Uzbek educational institutions. Currently, over 141,300 students in 602 schools, as well as 15,000 university students across 11 universities, are learning French.
Between 2018 and 2023, over 50 agreements and memoranda of understanding have been signed in the field of education, encompassing a wide range of sectors, including tourism, archaeology, design and fashion, French philology, aviation, inclusive education, business management, energy, political science, and more.
In 2019, a joint faculty of the Paris International Fashion Academy was established at the Tashkent Institute of Textile and Light Industry. A branch of the “Vatel” Business School for Tourism and Hospitality Management was opened at Bukhara State University, and the Uzbek-French Innovation Center for 3D Modeling operates at Tashkent State Transport University. Since the 2021-2022 academic years, a pilot training school has been operating at Tashkent State Transport University in partnership with the French National School of Civil Aviation.
In November 2023, as part of French President Emmanuel Macron’s visit to Uzbekistan, the opening ceremony of the second branch of the “Alliance Française” was held in Samarkand.
Conversely, Uzbek language courses have been established at the National Institute of Oriental Languages and Civilizations at the Sorbonne University, contributing to the promotion of Uzbek culture in France.
Furthermore, joint educational forums have been held in Tashkent and Paris in recent years, and Uzbekistan has welcomed delegations from French universities such as the University of Le Havre Normandy, the University of Paris-Saclay, and Paris Panthéon-Assas University.
As part of the development of intercultural dialogue, twinning arrangements have been established between Samarkand and Lyon, Bukhara and Rueil-Malmaison, and the Zaamin district of the Jizzakh region and the Fleurs commune.
A bust of Abu Ali Ibn Sina has been installed at the French Academy of Medicine, and monuments to Abu Ali ibn Sina, Mirzo Ulugbek, and Abu Rayhan Beruni have been erected in the cities of Rueil-Malmaison, Toulouse, and Gretz-Armainvilliers. “Uzbek Gardens” have been created, symbolizing the warm and friendly relations between the peoples of the two countries.
Regarding scientific cooperation, the activities of the Association for the Study of Art and History of the Timurid Era and the “Avicenna-France” Association in France deserve mention. These associations make significant contributions to the study of Uzbekistan’s cultural and scientific heritage and its promotion among the French public.
Interaction in the healthcare sector is steadily expanding. In March 2022, the Ministry of Health of Uzbekistan signed a memorandum with the Assistance Publique – Hôpitaux de Paris (AP-HP), the Paris university hospital trust, on cooperation in emergency medicine, pediatrics, gynecology, hematology, and oncology.
In September 2023, a delegation from the Ministry of Health of Uzbekistan participated in the “French Healthcare Innovation & Business Forum” in Paris, holding meetings with representatives of companies operating in the medical field and signing corresponding contracts.
There is also significant interest in France in Kurash, the traditional Uzbek sport. Two international Kurash tournaments for the Prize of the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan were held in Paris in 2022-2023.
In conclusion, the foregoing demonstrates that Uzbek-French relations are dynamically evolving, encompassing a wide range of areas – from politics and economics to science, culture, and education. In this context, the upcoming official visit of President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev to France promises to be a landmark event in the history of bilateral partnership. New initiatives and agreements signed during the visit will undoubtedly elevate bilateral cooperation to an even higher level.
