At the meeting of the Supreme Eurasian Economic Council in St. Petersburg on December 21, President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev called the EAEU countries “strategic and natural partners” of Uzbekistan, and thanked “respected” Vladimir Putin for his hospitality and for organizing the meeting.
“In the context of growing fragmentation of global markets, complications in logistics chains, and shifting priorities in the allocation of investment resources, deepening pragmatic and mutually beneficial cooperation with the countries of the Eurasian Economic Union – our strategic and natural partners – acquires fundamental importance for us,” said Mirziyoyev.
Over the past four years, the president emphasized, Uzbekistan’s trade turnover with the EAEU countries has almost doubled, with an increasing share of goods of high added value. “This reflects the genuine interest of our partners in strengthening production chains,” he noted.
Mirziyoyev reminded that Uzbekistan actively participates in key Eurasian formats: it is implementing a three‑year plan with the Eurasian Economic Commission, including about 40 specific measures, and is preparing to host in Tashkent in 2026 the fifth meeting of the joint working group.
The president paid special attention to cooperation priorities:
- elimination of trade barriers and creation of a “Uzbekistan–EAEU” coordination group on tariff and non‑tariff barriers;
- development of industrial cooperation and launch of joint projects in mechanical engineering, energy, agriculture, and the chemical industry;
- digitalization of trade and customs administration, transition to a “seamless” model of cargo transportation;
- participation in EAEU technological platforms — from biomedicine and new materials to robotics;
- formation of a unified tourism resource that will combine the products of the union’s countries.
Separately, Mirziyoyev noted Uzbekistan’s accession to the Eurasian Development Bank as “an important stage in strengthening cooperation.” Together with the Bank, a portfolio of promising projects has already been formed in infrastructure, energy, and metallurgy.
In conclusion, he reaffirmed Uzbekistan’s commitment to further expanding practical interaction with the EAEU and wished success to Kazakhstan, which is assuming the chairmanship of the union, as well as peace and prosperity to the peoples of the region.
Uzbekistan is not a member of the EAEU; the country has observer status in the union. The members of the EAEU are Russia, Belarus, Armenia, Kazakhstan, and Kyrgyzstan.
On the same day, Shavkat Mirziyoyev was awarded the International Peace Prize named after Lev Nikolayevich Tolstoy (article image).