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President Droupadi Murmu on Monday met Uzbekistan Foreign Minister Bakhtiyor Saidov at Rashtrapati Bhavan, reaffirming India's commitment to deepening its strategic and economic partnership with the Central Asian nation.

 

Welcoming the visiting minister and his delegation, President Murmu highlighted the centuries-old historical, cultural and civilisational ties between India and Uzbekistan, rooted in the ancient Silk Road trade routes.

 

She said the shared heritage reflected in architecture, language, cuisine, music and religious traditions continues to strengthen bilateral relations and provide a strong foundation for future cooperation.

 

The meeting focused on expanding collaboration across several sectors, including trade, mining, rare earth critical minerals, agriculture, pharmaceuticals and information technology.

 

President Murmu noted that the India-Uzbekistan Business Forum, held alongside the minister's visit, reflected growing confidence among businesses in both countries and would further boost commercial engagement.

 

She also underscored the importance of educational and professional exchanges in strengthening people-to-people ties. According to the President's Secretariat, more than 3,000 Uzbek officials, professionals and students have benefited from India's Indian Technical and Economic Cooperation (ITEC) training programmes and scholarships, while over 16,000 Indian students are currently pursuing higher education in Uzbekistan.

 

The President said these exchanges have created a strong bridge between the two nations and contributed significantly to mutual understanding and cooperation.

 

Both sides reaffirmed their commitment to expanding strategic engagement and strengthening cooperation across Central Asia. They expressed confidence that the discussions during the visit would further deepen the bonds of friendship, trust and partnership between India and Uzbekistan.

 

Bakhtiyor Saidov is on an official visit to India from August 2 to 5, during which he is expected to hold a series of high-level meetings aimed at enhancing bilateral cooperation in key strategic and economic sectors.