Uzbekistan, Bulgaria plan joint culture week, tech cooperation

TASHKENT, Uzbekistan (MNTV) — Uzbekistan and Bulgaria have agreed to co-host a joint week of culture and cinema in 2026, part of a renewed push to strengthen ties after nearly two decades of limited engagement.

The announcement came during a meeting of Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev and Bulgarian President Rumen Radev at Uzbekistan’s Presidential Palace in Tashkent. The meeting marked the first high-level talks between the two countries in 17 years and signaled a new phase in their bilateral partnership.

According to Daryo News, both leaders pledged to deepen cooperation across a broad spectrum—ranging from trade and education to agriculture, technology, and labor mobility. President Mirziyoyev said the talks would elevate Uzbek-Bulgarian relations to a “qualitatively new level.”

A major outcome of the meeting was a plan to open trading houses in both capitals—Tashkent and Sofia—alongside accredited laboratories and preferential credit lines to boost exports in textiles, chemicals, pharmaceuticals, and industrial goods.

The two sides also committed to cooperation in emerging sectors, including artificial intelligence, IT, and digital infrastructure. Joint initiatives in agriculture, geology, and medicine were also identified as areas of mutual interest.

Efforts to improve connectivity featured prominently. Officials discussed launching direct flights and developing new land transport corridors. Uzbekistan is also considering opening a Migration Agency office in Sofia to manage workforce flows and support labor exchange.

Cultural diplomacy and academic ties were highlighted through plans for university-level exchanges and a scheduled rectors’ summit in Andijan later this year.