India and Uzbekistan Review Ties and Trade Goals During Baku Talks

External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar met Uzbekistan's Foreign Minister Bakhtiyor Saidov in Baku on Friday to discuss key issues and push for the timely execution of past agreements. The talks took place during Mr. Jaishankar's day-long visit to Azerbaijan to review bilateral relations, where he also met President Ilham Aliyev and Foreign Minister Jeyhun Bayramov.

Bilateral Goals

Bilateral ties between New Delhi and Tashkent were upgraded to a comprehensive strategic partnership during Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit in August. Both nations have set a target of five billion dollars in bilateral trade and recently signed eleven agreements covering mining, tourism, and a long-term uranium supply framework from Uzbekistan to India. Mr. Modi was also awarded Uzbekistan's highest honour for foreign leaders, the Oliy Darajali Do'stlik Order, during that visit.

Context

High-level diplomatic exchanges often serve to review progress on economic and strategic targets set by national leaders. Bilateral frameworks in regions like Central Asia and the Caucasus play an important role in expanding energy cooperation and improving trade routes for emerging economies.