Your Excellency,
And my friend President Mirziyoyev,
Respected guests and friends from Uzbekistan,
Members of Indian delegation,
Namaskar!
Mister President,
This is your first State visit of India. I am happy that you are visiting India with your family and a strong delegation. I am extremely happy to welcome you, your family and delegation. Our shared history and culture are witness to the similarities and close
relations that India and Uzbekistan have. We have so many common words like ‘Friend’, ‘Guest’ and ‘Aziz’ which are prevalent in both the countries. This is not just a similarity in our languages this is meeting of hearts and emotions. I am both proud and happy
that the relations of both countries are built on such strong foundation.
Mister President, I first met you in 2015 during my visit to Uzbekistan. Your goodwill and friendship towards India, and your personality has impressed me very much. This is our fourth meeting. I feel like you are a very close and dear friend. I am even happier
that there is a strong delegation with you. Under your leadership and able guidance they have had many useful meetings in India in the last few days. Today we had a very meaningful discussion. We have shared our vision and plans to deepen the historic relations
of India and Uzbekistan, and to strengthen our strategic partnership. We have taken a long-term view to further enrich our old friendly relations in today's context. We had meaningful discussions on issues of regional importance which are related to our security,
peace, prosperity and cooperation. We have decided to deepen our cooperation on these issues, and on international forums including the Shanghai Cooperation Organization. In today's meeting, we have fully agreed that the time has now come to extend the ancient
and close relations between our countries in line with the aspirations and expectations of our people.
Excellency,
With many of your courageous and concrete steps and reforms, Uzbekistan has left the old order behind and moved forward towards modernism. This is the result of your leadership and vision. I welcome it. I congratulate you and offer my best wishes for further
success.
Excellency,
India is committed to cooperate with Uzbekistan in its efforts according to its priorities. Today we specifically had discussions to extend our existing cooperation in new areas. We have agreed to enhance our trade and investment relations. We have set a bilateral
trade target $1 billion by 2020. We have also decided to start negotiations on the Preferential Trade Agreement. On the proposal of Uzbekistan, we have decided to provide a Line of Credit of $ 200 million for low cost homes and other such social infrastructure
projects in the social sectors of Uzbekistan. In addition, we welcome proposals from Uzbekistan in line with Lines of Credit worth $800 million and also buyers credit by Exim Bank. We have proposed that Uzbekistan should benefit from the experience of India
in the areas of space, human resources development and information technology. We welcome the growing cooperation between India and states of Uzbekistan. Today Agra and Samarkand have signed Twinning agreements and there has been agreements between Gujarat
and Uzbekistan also. We have discussed ways to increase connectivity between India and Uzbekistan. Chabahar is an important link for business and connectivity. India has become a member of the Ashgabat Agreement in February 2018. We are grateful to Uzbekistan
for supporting us in this. We are glad that Uzbekistan has agreed to join the International North South Transport Corridor.
Excellency,
Tomorrow your senior adviser and minister will be attending the closing ceremony of Gandhi Sanitation Convention. The respect that you have for Mahatma Gandhi's message of truth, non-violence and peace has really touched the heart of Indians. Tashkent is associated
with the memory of our former Prime Minister Shri Lal Bahadur Shastri Ji. I thank you for the renovation of Shastri Ji's memorial and Lal Bahadur Shastri School. Your presence in India on the eve of the birth anniversary of these two great leaders holds special
significance for us.
Excellency,
It is a matter of happiness that our defense relations are enhancing further. During today's meeting, we discussed the need to increase our defense cooperation in joint military exercises and other necessary areas including military education and training.
Mister President, the discussion with you once again has clarified that India and Uzbekistan want a safe and prosperous external environment. We appreciate Uzbekistan's efforts for regional peace and stability. India will extend all possible cooperation to
Uzbekistan in this regard. Stable, democratic and inclusive and prosperous Afghanistan is in the best interests of our entire region. I am happy that in this context, we have decided to maintain regular contact between our two countries. Cultural and people-to-people
contacts are the pillars of our relations. Today we had discussions on topics like e-visa, tourism, academic exchanges and air connectivity.
Excellency, We are moving towards a new era now in which our bilateral relations will scale new heights and strengthen our strategic partnership. Once again I welcome you and your delegation and wish a pleasant and fruitful stay for you in India.
Many many thanks.
Disclaimer: PM’s Speech was delivered in Hindi. This is an approximate translation of Speech.