Uzbekistan and Latvia celebrate 34 years of diplomatic relations
November 3, 2026, marks the 34th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Uzbekistan and Latvia.
The Latvian Embassy in Tashkent opened in November 1992, followed by the Embassy of Uzbekistan in Riga in June 1995. In the years that followed, cooperation continued at the parliamentary and ministerial levels. In December 1997, Latvian Parliament (Saeima) Speaker Alfreds Čepānis made an official visit to Uzbekistan, and the Minister of Foreign Affairs Abdulaziz Kamilov visited Latvia in July 1998. A key milestone came with talks in October 2013. Their outcomes were discussed at Uzbekistan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs that December, as Ambassador Igors Apokins concluded his diplomatic mission. The President of Latvia Andris Bērziņš also made an official visit to Uzbekistan, expressing Latvia’s readiness to cooperate with Tashkent across a range of areas.
In 2017, the two heads of state exchanged congratulatory messages commemorating the 25th anniversary of diplomatic relations. Latvian President Raimonds Vējonis called Uzbekistan one of Latvia’s closest partners in Central Asia and voiced support for the state reform program launched by Shavkat Mirziyoyev. In response, the President of Uzbekistan noted that, in a relatively short period, the two countries had built a reliable partnership grounded in trust and mutual understanding.
Dialogue has continued into the current decade. In August 2025, the Minister of Foreign Affairs Bakhtiyor Saidov received the credentials of Latvia’s new ambassador, Ģirts Jaunzems, who succeeded Reinis Trokša, head of the diplomatic mission since 2021. During the meeting, both sides reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening longstanding ties and exploring new opportunities for mutually beneficial cooperation, both bilaterally and through regional platforms.
In 2025, a special event in Latvia showcased the initiative “Samarkand – the Tourism Gateway to New Uzbekistan”, as well as tourist attractions in Bukhara, Tashkent, Khorezm, and other historic regions. Latvian tourism professionals welcomed reforms in Uzbekistan’s tourism sector. The meeting concluded with an agreement to increase tourist arrivals from the Baltic states and organize a familiarization tour for tourism industry representatives.
This effort was further boosted by Uzbekistan’s participation in the 31st Balt Tour 2026 travel exhibition in Riga. Held annually, the exhibition brings together around 1,000 companies from about 30 countries and draws an average of more than 30,000 visitors. Embassy diplomats prepared Uzbekistan’s national stand in cooperation with Latvian travel company Al Svets. According to the news agency, visitors from Latvia and several EU countries noted Uzbekistan’s growing popularity among tourists from Latvia, Lithuania, Estonia and Finland.
The sector’s broader momentum underpins these efforts. Foreign tourist arrivals in Uzbekistan rose from 2 million in 2016 to 11.7 million in 2025, with 10.3 million people visiting in the first nine months of 2026. However, Latvia and the Baltic states still seem to account for only a modest share of these visitors, making promotion especially relevant.
Tourism also plays a prominent role in diplomatic events. At a reception in Riga in September 2026 marking the 35th anniversary of Uzbekistan’s independence, guests learned about the country’s reforms, historical and cultural landmarks, modern tourism infrastructure, and new opportunities for travelers. The reception brought together representatives of the Latvian government and state institutions, the diplomatic corps, the business community, and civil society.
Thirty-four years of diplomatic relations between Uzbekistan and Latvia deserve the highest praise. Over the years, the two countries have built a partnership rooted in trust and made it increasingly tangible. Latvia considers Uzbekistan one of its closest partners in Central Asia. Tourism and education are creating new opportunities, while interest in Uzbekistan continues to grow steadily in Latvia. This is a reliable partnership with a forward-looking vision.
Orash Akaboyev, UzA
