Uzbekistan – France cooperation marks 34 years
Over the past decades, relations between the Republic of Uzbekistan and France have steadily developed, covering political dialogue, trade and economic cooperation, investment, cultural exchanges, and educational projects. Paris and Tashkent have built a stable partnership based on mutual respect, pragmatic interests, and a shared aspiration to expand international cooperation. An important starting point in this process was the establishment of diplomatic relations between Uzbekistan and France on March 1, 1992, which laid the foundation for multifaceted and long-term cooperation.
In the first years following the establishment of relations, the sides demonstrated mutual interest in developing cooperation. In 1993, a Treaty of Friendship and Cooperation was signed, creating the legal basis for long-term interaction. During that period, the first high-level visits took place, including a visit by Uzbekistan’s President Islam Karimov to France and a visit by French President François Mitterrand to Tashkent. These contacts became an important symbol of political dialogue and mutual trust, and also confirmed the countries’ commitment to expanding bilateral ties. After 2001, cooperation intensified amid international efforts to secure Afghanistan and maintain regional stability. Despite periods of cooling, interaction between the two countries did not cease, and intergovernmental cooperation mechanisms continued to function.
A new stage in relations between Uzbekistan and France began after 2016, when Uzbekistan intensified its foreign policy course and economic reforms. The visit of President Shavkat Mirziyoyev to France in October 2018 became a key milestone in the development of cooperation. During the talks, numerous intergovernmental agreements were signed covering investment, infrastructure, culture, education, and industry. The French side emphasized its support for reforms in Uzbekistan, and Paris became one of Uzbekistan’s key European partners. In the following years, political contacts continued to strengthen. In 2022, another official visit by the President of Uzbekistan to France took place, resulting in the signing of dozens of agreements and contracts worth billions of euros, underscoring the expansion of economic cooperation. French companies have shown interest in participating in projects to modernize Uzbekistan’s infrastructure, energy, transport, and tourism sectors, as well as in investing in industry and innovation.
An important symbol of strengthening partnership was the visit of French President Emmanuel Macron to Uzbekistan in 2023, which gave additional momentum to bilateral cooperation and confirmed France’s strategic interest in Central Asia. Following this, the talks between Presidents Shavkat Mirziyoyev and Emmanuel Macron at the Élysée Palace in March 2025 became an important milestone in bilateral relations. As a result, a historic decision was made to establish a strategic partnership between the two countries. The heads of state discussed in detail the further strengthening of multifaceted cooperation, noting the successful implementation of agreements reached at the 2023 Samarkand summit.
Today, active contacts between the two states have been established at various levels. Trade turnover in 2024 exceeded €1 billion for the first time, while the number of joint ventures increased fourfold. Particular attention is being paid to the development of trade and economic ties, investment cooperation, and industrial collaboration. As part of preparations for the visit of the President of Uzbekistan, a meeting of the Intergovernmental Commission was held, a business mission of the French entrepreneurial community took place, and the Business Chamber began its work, demonstrating the systematic nature of cooperation. A new cooperation program aimed at infrastructure modernization, environmental projects, and sustainable development is being implemented jointly with the French Development Agency. During the state visit of the Uzbekistan delegation to France, events were held not only in Paris but also in Toulouse, Lyon, and Nice, with the participation of regional authorities and business circles. A medical forum, a conference on science and education, and presentations of Uzbekistan’s tourism potential and cultural heritage were also organized. A symbolic event was the unveiling in the city of Gretz-Armainvilliers of a bust dedicated to the outstanding scholar Abu Rayhan Beruni, underscoring the importance of humanitarian ties between the peoples.
Economic cooperation between the countries is demonstrating steady growth. The innovation and industrial partnership program prepared by the two sides envisages the implementation of joint projects in the extraction and processing of critical mineral raw materials, energy, transport, and infrastructure totaling nearly €6.5 billion. Overall, the portfolio of joint projects has already exceeded €12 billion. France is becoming one of Uzbekistan’s key partners in Europe in modernizing the economy and attracting high technologies.
Today, around fifty enterprises with French capital operate in Uzbekistan, nearly half of which are fully owned by French investors. Global companies such as Veolia, EDF, Orano, Lactalis, and Carrefour are active in the country, implementing projects across energy, geological exploration, the food industry, and retail. The French Development Agency is involved in programs to develop urban infrastructure, water supply, hydropower, agriculture, and the green economy, contributing to the country’s sustainable growth.
Humanitarian and educational cooperation remains an important area. Today, more than 150,000 schoolchildren study the French language in hundreds of educational institutions across Uzbekistan, along with around 16,000 university students. In 2019, a joint faculty of the Paris International Fashion Academy was opened at the Tashkent Institute of Textile and Light Industry. Uzbek language courses have been launched at the National Institute of Oriental Languages and Civilizations at Sorbonne University, helping promote Uzbek culture in France.
Scientific contacts are also developing actively. Uzbekistan is regularly visited by delegations from French universities, including Le Havre Normandy University and Paris-Saclay University. Educational forums, conferences, and academic exchanges are being held, strengthening intellectual ties between the two countries. Intercultural dialogue is further enriched by sister-city relations between Samarkand and Lyon, Bukhara and Rueil-Malmaison, and cooperation between regions. In several French cities, monuments to outstanding Eastern thinkers – Abu Ali ibn Sina, Mirzo Ulugbek, and Abu Rayhan Beruni – have been installed, and Uzbek gardens have been created, becoming symbols of friendship between peoples.
Uzbekistan and France also actively engage on the international stage. The two sides cooperate effectively within the UN and the OSCE, reaffirming their commitment to strengthening peace, stability, and security. France supports Uzbekistan’s efforts to build confidence in Central Asia, facilitates the country’s accession to the World Trade Organization, and advocates for the development of an Enhanced Partnership Agreement with the European Union.
Notably, as early as January 2026, France ranked among Uzbekistan’s leading partners in exports of goods and services, accounting for a significant share of the country’s foreign trade turnover (6.1%). This indicates that cooperation is reaching a qualitatively new level and acquiring strategic significance.
Thus, over 34 years, interaction between Uzbekistan and France has evolved into a stable and multifaceted partnership. Today, it is based not only on political dialogue but also on practical economic projects, cultural initiatives, and educational ties, creating a solid foundation for deepening cooperation in the interests of the peoples of both countries and for strengthening international engagement.
Aziza Alimova, UzA
