Spain Declares Uzbekistan a Priority Partner in Central Asia

Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) — Spain intends to strengthen institutional cooperation with Uzbekistan under its new Asia-Pacific Strategy for 2026–2029.

This was announced in Barcelona during the presentation of the document, attended by heads of diplomatic missions from Asian and Oceanian countries, as well as the ambassadors of Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan, according to Dunyo.

The strategy was presented by Spain’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, José Manuel Albares. In his remarks, he noted that the document, approved by the Council of Ministers on December 9, 2025, serves as a programmatic foundation and “roadmap” defining the priorities of Spanish foreign policy in the Asian direction.

The strategy envisions deepening political dialogue, expanding trade and economic ties, increasing Spain’s diplomatic presence in the region, and promoting new economic agreements and sustainable formats of cooperation.

Special attention is also given to developing collaboration in science, innovation, education, culture, and public diplomacy.

The minister emphasized that Uzbekistan has established itself as Spain’s priority partner in Central Asia, particularly in light of the country’s extensive economic reforms and policy of international openness. It was noted that bilateral cooperation has significantly intensified in recent years, and Spain is showing growing interest in participating in Uzbekistan’s economic modernization and promoting Spanish companies in its strategic sectors.

The presentation also highlighted Uzbekistan’s steady economic growth, driven by economic liberalization, foreign investment attraction, and production diversification. In its engagement with the European Union, Uzbekistan is viewed as a key partner in Eurasian connectivity and the development of transport corridors under the Global Gateway initiative.

At the institutional level, political and economic contacts have been actively strengthened, including business forums and official visits.

The presentation underlined the need to further enhance dialogue mechanisms and create conditions for more active participation of the Spanish private sector in projects in Uzbekistan.

Overall, the strategy demonstrates Spain’s commitment to systematically and long-term strengthening its presence in the Asia-Pacific region and to giving its engagement with regional countries, including Uzbekistan, a more institutionalized and strategic character.