Meloni in Uzbekistan, Asian mission kicks off: summit with Mirziyoyev expected

The Italian premier arrives in Samarkand to strengthen the strategic partnership. New bilateral agreements expected to be signed between Italy and Uzbekistan

The Asian mission of Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, who is expected in the Uzbek city of Samarkand this evening, kicked off today, Thursday 28 May. Once the beating heart of the Silk Road and capital of Tamerlane’s empire, Samarkand preserves intact its extraordinary historical heritage, recognised by Unesco in 2001.

Tomorrow morning, Friday 29 May, Meloni will meet the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan, Shavkat Mirziyoyev, for a bilateral summit focusing on strengthening the strategic partnership between Rome and Tashkent. At the end of the talks, a series of agreements aimed at expanding economic, cultural, and technological cooperation between the two countries is expected to be signed.

According to the official website of the Uzbek presidency, the meeting will also include the promotion of innovative projects and humanitarian exchange initiatives. Anticipation for the Italian Prime Minister’s arrival is high: the streets of downtown Samarkand are already adorned with Italian flags alongside those of Uzbekistan, in anticipation of the official procession heading to the congress centre, the venue of the summit.

The visit is part of the path started in June 2023 with the meeting between Mirziyoyev and Meloni in Rome, when a joint declaration was signed to launch the strategic partnership and eleven intergovernmental agreements were signed in key sectors such as the economy, tourism, education and culture.

After the stop in Samarkand, Meloni will continue her diplomatic mission in Kazakhstan, in Astana, where she will attend the Central Asia-Italy summit.

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(Photo: © AndKronos)