Premier Meloni was received in Tashkent by President Mirziyoyev

On January 19, on her return from a trip to Asia, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni was received in Tashkent by the President of Uzbekistan, Shavkat Mirziyoyev.

This was the first meeting between the two leaders since Prime Minister Meloni’s official visit to Samarkand in 2025, during which Italy and Uzbekistan signed the Joint Declaration on strengthening the strategic partnership and several memoranda in the fields of economy and education. Among these, a note from the Uzbek Ministry of Foreign Affairs recalled the implementation of partnerships involving Pietro Fiorentini and Danieli, CIUZ members, as well as the opening of a branch of the University of Tuscia in Samarkand.

The meeting marks the start of a year expected to be full of key milestones in the Italy–Uzbekistan agenda. In 2026, meetings of the strategic dialogue between the Ministries of Foreign Affairs, a session of the Intergovernmental Commission, an agri-food sector mission led by Minister Lollobrigida, and the second edition of the Italy–Uzbekistan Rectors’ Forum are planned.

Reiterating the achievements reached and the strategic nature of bilateral cooperation, Meloni and Mirziyoyev agreed to remain in close contact.