State visit: Macron and Uzbek president sign strategic partnership

The French president met his Uzbek counterpart Shavkat Mirziyoyev on 13 March. The visit aimed to strengthen Uzbek-French relations through high-level talks and meetings with French officials and business leaders, writes Derya Soysal.

The president's official welcome ceremony was held at the Invalides monument in Paris on Wednesday (13 March), where he was greeted by Emmanuel Macron, who will host him until Thursday.

The two leaders and their delegations then met at the Élysée Palace to discuss Franco-Uzbek relations, focusing on trade and the economy. Discussions also focused on encouraging cooperation with French companies and businesses, notably SUEZ, which has a presence in Uzbekistan.

The agenda includes discussions on expanding cooperation in trade, economic, and investment spheres, with plans to sign several intergovernmental agreements. This visit is part of Uzbekistan's strategy to engage more with European countries, reducing its dependence on Russia and fostering mutually beneficial partnerships.

Historically, relations between Uzbekistan and France date back to the 14th (Timurid Period) century, with significant economic and cultural exchanges. Under Mirziyoyev's leadership since 2016, these ties have deepened, marked by increased French business presence in Uzbekistan and numerous bilateral agreements. Following President Mirziyoyev's visit to Paris in October 2018, agreements and conventions strengthening bilateral cooperation were signed. In April 2019, Foreign Minister Jean-Baptiste Lemoine visited the cities of Tashkent and Samarkand to start work following Mirziyoyev's visit.

During this visit, France and Uzbekistan officially established a “strategic partnership”. In a joint declaration signed by the two heads of state, Paris and Tashkent affirm their desire to “diversify and deepen their relations in a spirit of trust and solidarity”, and to elevate them to “a genuine long-term strategic partnership”. This decision is in line with the commitments made during Emmanuel Macron's visit to Uzbekistan last November.

The joint declaration places political, security and economic cooperation at the heart of this partnership. France salutes “Uzbekistan's efforts to ensure peace, security, sustainable development and good neighborly relations in Central Asia”, and stresses the importance of consultative meetings between the region's heads of state.

On the security front, the two countries announce their intention to “develop their relations in the field of defense to strengthen their capacity and autonomy” by launching structuring projects in the defense industry.

Uzbekistan and France are actively engaged in constructive and dynamic cooperation of mutual interest. Uzbekistan's interests cover a wide range of issues, including the use of French expertise and investment for social modernization, economic partnership, industrial growth, regional cooperation, international engagement and overall development. France's interests, on the other hand, stem mainly from Uzbekistan's geostrategic position, natural resources and the potential of its transportation infrastructure. Moreover, Uzbekistan, along with the rest of Central Asia, is a fresh, untapped alternative market and a new platform for French companies. Uzbekistan, the world's fifth-largest uranium producer, has become a strategic supplier for France in recent years. 90% of Uzbekistan's exports to France are uranium compounds. “In 2023, Uzbekistan supplied France with around 8% of the uranium we need”, i.e. 1,730 tonnes... mainly uranium compounds, worth 93 million euros.

France and Uzbekistan underline the essential role of multilateralism, in which the United Nations plays a central role, and reaffirm their attachment to the United Nations Charter, and in particular the importance of promoting and protecting human rights and fundamental freedoms for the development of each country. France and Uzbekistan wish to strengthen multilateral cooperation in all fields, and to increase their cooperation within international organizations, notably the United Nations, its specialized agencies and the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe according to Elysée.

According to the official website of the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in 2023 Uzbek exports reached a record with French sales exceeding 300 million euros in the first eight months. According to the same data, it is stated that France is among the top 10 trade partners of Uzbekistan today, while France is the 14th supplier country of Uzbekistan. France is one of the two European countries in the top 10 in Uzbekistan's foreign trade. France's position has improved compared to the previous year and, barring a cyclical change, bilateral trade volume is expected to increase further in the coming years. Given France's dependence on nuclear power for 70% of its electricity, Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan are key partners for France.

In short, Uzbekistan, which is gradually opening up to the world and posting an enviable growth rate of 6%, is looking for partners to accelerate this transformation, particularly in terms of technology. France, for its part, is keen to strengthen its economic partnership in Central Asia.

SOURCES

Le président ouzbek à Paris pour renforcer les relations, notamment dans l'énergie | Euronews

Ouzbékistan et France resserrent leurs liens - Causeur

Déclaration conjointe sur l’établissement d’un partenariat stratégique entre la République française et la République d’Ouzbékistan. | Élysée

President of the Republic of Uzbekistan to pay a state visit to France

(99+) Özbekistan Jeopolitiği: Avrupa Birliği için Stratejik Değeri Geopolitics of Uzbekistan: Strategic Value for the European Union Medihanur ARGALI1 ve Derya SOYSAL2 Öz

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