Uzbekistan-Bulgaria: A dialogue of traditions and strategic interests

On June 9-11, at the invitation of President Shavkat Mirziyoyev, President of Bulgaria Rumen Radev will pay an official visit to Uzbekistan, reports Dunyo IA correspondent.

Relations between Uzbekistan and Bulgaria have deep historical roots. Scholars note that contacts between peoples of Turkic origin, to whom the ancestors of the Bulgarians belong, and regions that are part of modern Uzbekistan, date back to the era of the Great Silk Road. These ties, based on migration, trade, and cultural flows, became the foundation for mutual interest and respect.

Modern diplomatic relations between the two countries were established on September 12, 1992. Since then, Tashkent and Sofia have consistently developed a political dialogue, and in recent years a new dynamic of activity has emerged, giving relations a qualitatively different character.

Political interaction between Uzbekistan and Bulgaria is based on a spirit of constructive partnership and mutual support. Bilateral contacts at the highest and high levels have intensified in recent years, reflecting Uzbekistan’s general course towards strengthening ties with the states of the European Union. Bulgaria, as an EU member state, is considered by Tashkent to be among the promising partners in Europe.

The meeting between President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev and President of Bulgaria Rumen Radev, which took place on September 20, 2017, on the sidelines of the 72nd session of the UN General Assembly, confirmed their mutual commitment to the development of bilateral dialogue and the strengthening of cooperation, laying the foundations for further deepening interstate relations, including the current visit.

Within the framework of the UN and the OSCE, Bulgaria consistently supports Uzbekistan’s initiatives aimed at the sustainable development of Central Asia and ensuring regional stability. The Bulgarian side highly appreciates the reforms implemented within the framework of the "New Uzbekistan" Strategy, including strengthening civil society institutions and developing the media sphere.

Inter-parliamentary ties are also developing consistently. The Bulgarian Parliament has a friendship group "Bulgaria-Uzbekistan," and the chambers of the Oliy Majlis have jointly created an inter-parliamentary group for cooperation with the National Assembly of Bulgaria.

Within the framework of this cooperation, mutual exchange of visits is carried out, the dynamics of which have become more active in recent years. In July 2018, a delegation headed by the Chairman of the Bulgaria-Uzbekistan Friendship Group in the National Assembly of Bulgaria, Adlen Shevked, visited Uzbekistan.

In November 2018, a delegation from the Uzbekistan-Bulgaria inter-parliamentary group of the Legislative Chamber of the Oliy Majlis visited Bulgaria, where they met with the leadership of the National Assembly, representatives of the Ministries of Foreign Affairs, Economy and Tourism, and the mayors of Plovdiv and Kardzhali.

In December 2021, the Chairperson of the Senate of the Oliy Majlis, Tanzila Narbaeva, participated in and delivered a video address at the high-level ministerial conference on demographic resilience, titled "Shaping Europes’ Demographic Future: Pathways for Societies to Thrive in a World of Rapid Demographic Change", held in Sofia.

The foreign policy agencies of the two countries maintain regular contacts, including inter-ministerial consultations, during which not only bilateral issues are discussed, but also the current international agenda, including climate, digital transformation, the fight against disinformation, and human rights.

On October 23, 2023, within the framework of participation in the 19th EU-Central Asia Ministerial Meeting in Luxembourg, a meeting was held between Minister of Foreign Affairs Bakhtiyor Saidov and Deputy Prime Minister, Head of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Bulgaria Maria Gabriel.

Economic interaction between Uzbekistan and Bulgaria has not yet reached the level corresponding to the potential of both countries. However, there are prerequisites for intensifying cooperation in areas such as pharmaceuticals and biomedicine, information technology and telecommunications, agriculture and food processing, renewable energy (including solar and hydrogen technologies), textiles and the chemical industry.

The parties intend to intensify the activities of the Uzbek-Bulgarian Intergovernmental Commission on Trade, Economic and Scientific-Technical Cooperation, the 5th meeting of which took place in Sofia in September 2019.

The investment potential of both countries is becoming increasingly attractive from the point of view of partnership, which is facilitated by the liberalization of the economy of Uzbekistan, the development of free economic zones, and active support for small and medium-sized businesses.

Today, 30 enterprises with the participation of investors from Bulgaria operate in Uzbekistan, including 4 with 100% Bulgarian capital. The main areas of their activity are oil refining, production of finished textile products, the food industry, trade operations, and services.

Both countries show interest in developing transport and logistics cooperation, especially in the context of the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route, which can connect Uzbekistan with the Black Sea ports through the territory of the Caucasus. Bulgaria, with its developed infrastructure and logistics hubs, can play the role of a transit corridor between Central Asia and the European Union.

Uzbek-Bulgarian cooperation is actively developing in the humanitarian and educational spheres.

The "Uzbekistan-Bulgaria" Friendship Society and the Bulgarian Cultural Center make a great contribution to strengthening intercultural dialogue.

Partnerships between the cities of Bukhara and Varna, Samarkand and Plovdiv are becoming a symbol of friendship, cultural understanding, and trust. Through the exchange of delegations, cultural projects, and joint initiatives, they contribute to strengthening the dialogue between the peoples of Uzbekistan and Bulgaria.

In recent years, Bulgarian film screenings and art exhibitions have been held in Tashkent and Samarkand. Embassies and diaspora organizations contribute to the promotion of the culture of both countries through language courses, musical evenings, and round tables on the topic of cultural heritage.

In the field of education, cooperation agreements have been signed between the Tashkent Institute of Chemical Technology and the University of Chemical Technology and Metallurgy in Sofia, the Tashkent State University of Law and the Sofia University "St. Kliment Ohridski", the Samarkand State Medical University and the Medical University of Sofia. Memoranda of cooperation have also been signed between the Namangan State University and the Technical University of Varna, the University of World Economy and Diplomacy and the Diplomatic Institute at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Bulgaria. This interaction contributes to deepening humanitarian ties, improving the quality of training and strengthening mutual understanding between the youth of the two countries.

In addition, Uzbekistan and Bulgaria participate in the Erasmus+ programs, under which Uzbek students study and undergo internships at Bulgarian universities, as well as at the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences.

Significant potential for further development of bilateral cooperation can also be traced in the field of tourism. Both countries have a rich historical and cultural heritage, unique architectural monuments, and diverse natural landscapes, which creates favorable conditions for the development of mutual tourist exchange.

Thus, it is obvious that Uzbekistan and Bulgaria intend to fully unlock and realize the potential of bilateral interaction based on trust and mutual respect for each other’s interests.

In this regard, there is no doubt that the upcoming visit of the President of Bulgaria Rumen Radev to Uzbekistan, as well as his participation in the IV Tashkent International Investment Forum, will give a powerful impetus to the further development of mutually beneficial partnership and lay the foundation for building up relations in all directions.

Photo from the archive of the press service of the President of Uzbekistan