President of Uzbekistan Meets with Italian Prime Minister

Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) — On 19 January, President of the Republic of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev held a meeting in Tashkent with Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, who made a brief stop in the Uzbek capital.

The leaders discussed practical measures to further strengthen strategic partnership between the two countries and expand multifaceted cooperation. They welcomed the consistent implementation of agreements reached at the highest level in Samarkand in May 2025.

Active contacts between Uzbekistan and Italy continue at various levels. Trade turnover has shown steady growth, and the number of joint ventures is increasing. Interregional exchanges are expanding, including with the Italian region of Lombardy, and quotas have been allocated for organized labor migration of Uzbek citizens.

Major industrial cooperation projects are being implemented in partnership with companies such as Finopera, ANCI, Pietro Fiorentini, and Danieli. At the end of 2025, a branch of Tuscia University opened in Samarkand. This year, strategic dialogue sessions between foreign policy ministries, intergovernmental commission meetings, and the second Rectors’ Forum are planned.

Particular attention was given to promoting joint projects in textile industry, geology, energy, chemistry, construction materials production, the financial sector, and other priority areas.

The parties agreed to hold cross-cultural Days of Uzbek and Italian cinema, supported Uzbekistan’s plans to participate in the next Venice Biennale, and organize applied arts exhibitions and expositions in Milan.

The meeting also included an exchange of views on international and regional agendas. Following the dialogue, President Shavkat Mirziyoyev invited Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni to pay a separate official visit to Uzbekistan.