Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) — President of the French Republic Emmanuel Macron hosted a grand state reception at the Élysée Palace in honor of the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan, Shavkat Mirziyoyev.

The reception was attended by official delegations from both countries, members of the French Cabinet of Ministers led by Prime Minister François Bayrou, as well as prominent figures from the fields of culture, arts, science, business, and civil society.

Addressing Emmanuel Macron and his wife, Brigitte Macron, Shavkat Mirziyoyev expressed his sincere gratitude for their hospitality and emphasized the historical significance of the negotiations, which elevated Uzbek-French relations to the level of a strategic partnership.

In his speech, Emmanuel Macron welcomed the outcomes of the talks and the signed agreements, highlighting the progress achieved in bilateral cooperation:

"In recent years, we have established long-term collaboration in key areas such as energy, water resource management, public utilities, transport, and sustainable tourism. A testament to this is the active participation of French companies in Uzbekistan’s economy, supported by the French government and the French Development Agency. This contributes to the creation of added value, new jobs in the regions, and the professional development of young people."

At the conclusion of the event, both sides reaffirmed their strong commitment to further strengthening Uzbek-French cooperation in the interests of the peoples of both countries.