Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev paid an official visit to Georgia on 2–3 July, the first at the highest level, and signed a strategic partnership agreement with Tbilisi. Uzbekistan becomes the second Central Asian country to reach that status with Georgia after Kazakhstan did so on 30 June.
The visit follows a series of Georgian ministerial trips to Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Kazakhstan in June and comes as Tbilisi expands engagement with Central Asia. Officials on both sides also highlighted the Middle Corridor trade route linking Asia and Europe outside Russia as a priority for transport and logistics cooperation.
Programme in Tbilisi
Mirziyoyev arrived at Tbilisi International Airport on 2 July and was received by Foreign Minister Maka Botchorishvili. President Mikheil Kavelashvili welcomed him at the Orbeliani Presidential Palace; Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze hosted an official dinner and joined him for a ride on the Tbilisi Funicular Railway.
Kavelashvili said talks with Mirziyoyev focused on connectivity between the South Caucasus and Central Asia. He thanked Uzbekistan for support on Georgia’s sovereignty and territorial integrity and presented Mirziyoyev with the Order of the Golden Fleece.
Agreements signed
On 3 July Kobakhidze and Mirziyoyev held bilateral talks and signed a joint declaration elevating relations to strategic partnership. Expanded government meetings followed at the administration building.
Memorandums were also signed in economy, healthcare, environmental protection, agriculture, finance, customs, education, information technology and culture. Mirziyoyev left Tbilisi the same day after a farewell at the airport.
