Uzbekistan, St. Petersburg Agree on Language Center

Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) — On 11 June 2026, Uzbekistan’s Deputy Foreign Minister Olimjon Abdullayev held a series of meetings with officials from the governments of St. Petersburg and the Leningrad Region during a working visit to Russia’s second-largest city.

The talks, attended by representatives of committees responsible for external relations, labor and employment, included discussions on bilateral cooperation. The Russian side highly praised the active participation of the Uzbek delegation in the 29th St. Petersburg International Economic Forum (SPIEF), highlighting its importance for strengthening allied relations between the two countries.

The parties discussed prospects for trade, economic and investment cooperation. The Airitom International Trade Center in Uzbekistan’s Surkhandarya Region was identified as one of the most promising locations for joint logistics and investment projects.

Russian partners also expressed readiness to participate in the upcoming Tashkent International Investment Forum to further expand interregional ties.

A significant part of the agenda focused on migration issues.

One of the key practical outcomes of the visit was an agreement with the Association for the Promotion of International Labor Migration to establish a specialized testing center in Samarkand Region for the Russian language, Russian history and the fundamentals of Russian legislation.

At the same time, the management of the Bronka Group and Yuzhny migration centers confirmed their intention to expand cooperation with Uzbekistan in the organized recruitment of workers. The parties agreed to increase the capacity of the centers, improve service conditions and strengthen information support for Uzbek citizens in coordination with Uzbekistan’s Consulate General in St. Petersburg.

Special attention was also given to the legal protection of Uzbek nationals. Following meetings with regional ombudsmen for human rights and children's rights, as well as representatives of the International Bar Association, the parties reached agreements on improving mechanisms for providing prompt legal assistance.

The Uzbek delegation also visited a temporary detention center for foreign nationals in the Leningrad Region, where it reviewed the conditions of Uzbek citizens held there and agreed with the facility’s administration on measures to accelerate documentation procedures to facilitate their return home.