30.05.2025

Distinguished heads of delegations!

I echo the words of gratitude addressed to the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan, esteemed Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, for the excellent organization of the summit and the traditionally warm welcome.

I would like to once again thank the President of the Council of Ministers of Italy, Madame Giorgia Meloni, for the initiative to hold today's meeting.

I would like to emphasize that we are considering this event in the context of the agreements on strategic partnership between the region of Central Asia and Europe, reached at the recent summit in Samarkand.

The Uzbek side is determined to develop productive practical cooperation in this format, taking into account, first of all, the technological, industrial and intellectual potential of our countries.

Esteemed participants of the summit!

I fully support the proposed agenda of our meeting.

I believe that in the current realities of global and regional political trends, rising challenges to common security and progress, the platform for multilateral dialogue with Italy that we have launched is quite relevant.

I would also like to note in this regard that our countries are linked by a centuries-old history of trade and cultural relations. The first diplomatic exchanges took place during the Kushan Empire and the reign of Emperor Augustus. Thousands of years ago, chroniclers, poets and thinkers noted the high level of civilizational development of our cities.

Yet another fact - since the 12th century, Italian scholars studied and translated the priceless works of Khorezmi, Fergani and Avicenna. Rare copies of the works of Farabi, Beruni, Jami, Fragi and other famous thinkers from our region are carefully preserved in Italian libraries.

I am convinced that such a rich history of relations serves as a solid foundation for a full-scale partnership at a new stage.

Dear colleagues!

I would like to briefly present our vision of the priorities of cooperation in “Central Asia – Italy” format.

In the political sphere, we support the continuation of regular contacts at foreign ministries’ level. There are a number of pressing issues on the international agenda that require coordination and agreed approaches.

We welcome the active diplomatic efforts of the Prime Minister of Italy, esteemed Madame Meloni on the earliest start of direct negotiations to resolve the situation around Ukraine.

We appreciate your vision on solving the Middle Eastern crisis and prospects for engagement with Afghanistan.

Yesterday in Samarkand, we discussed these sensitive matters in detail and noted the concurrence of our positions.

I would also like to propose to launch working mechanisms for multilateral partnership and exchange of information among our intelligence services in the fight against terrorism, extremism, radicalism, drug trafficking and illegal migration.

In the economic sphere, I am pleased to note that over the past few years, mutual trade and investment between Uzbekistan and Italy grew by almost threefold.

Technological cooperation projects are underway with leading Italian companies.

Given the traditionally strong positions of the Italian business community in the innovative development of the country, we propose to launch a permanent business dialogue platform Central Asia - Italy Business Club under the auspices of our chambers of commerce and industry. Such meetings with the broad participation of entrepreneurs could be held annually in our capitals, opening up new opportunities for trade and investment cooperation.

We also believe it is important to develop and adopt a comprehensive multilateral Industrial and Technological Cooperation Program. It would envision the creation of favorable conditions for technology transfer, introduction of advanced knowledge and best practices, as well as high-tech industrial production.

Building on the existing successful experience, the priority areas of cooperation could include the following deep processing of mineral resources and agricultural raw materials, production of modern equipment for the electrical, chemical, textile, leather, food and other processing industries, localization of the components and industrial goods, creation of design centers with leading Italian brands.

To implement projects of regional importance, we have started the creation of a special industrial park in the Tashkent region under the management of a European operator.

To support the cooperation projects, we believe it is necessary to engage the Italian state agencies SACE and SIMEST, as well as joint investment funds.

We highly appreciate the fruitful cooperation with the Italian government in green transformation. We look forward to developing a full-scale partnership by launching a multilateral platform designed to facilitate the implementation of national decarbonization programs.

With the involvement of Italy’s leading manufacturers and engineering companies, we are ready to implement projects in renewable energy, including the supply of "green" energy to the European Union, audit and improvement of energy efficiency of enterprises, modernization of water infrastructure facilities and development of hydrogen technologies.

In the humanitarian sphere, I would like to especially highlight the fruitful activities of the branches of the Turin Polytechnic and Pisa Universities in Tashkent, which have significantly expanded their educational programs. I welcome the rising interest expressed toward our region by other leading Italian institutes of higher learning.

We are putting forth an initiative to create a Central Asia - Italy Scientific and Educational Consortium to conduct and finance scientific research, academic exchange and training of personnel in such areas as engineering, design, water saving and bio-technology.

We are interested in launching a tourism alliance to establish partnerships between leading operators and create joint tourism products.

It is worth mentioning that our Italian friends have demonstrated keen interest in the exhibitions and cultural events recently held in Rome and Florence.

In this regard, I propose to hold a Youth Forum on Creative Industries and Cultural Exchange of the countries of Central Asia and Italy in the city of Khiva next year.

Distinguished heads of delegations!

In conclusion, I would like to once again reaffirm Uzbekistan's commitment to the further development of mutually beneficial and multifaceted cooperation in the “Central Asia – Italy” format.

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