Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) — Talks between President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz took place at the Congress Center in Samarkand, both in a narrow format and with the participation of delegations.

At the start of the meeting, President Mirziyoyev emphasized the historic importance of Olaf Scholz’s visit, noting that it signifies increased attention to developing Uzbek-German relations and support for the reforms under the “New Uzbekistan” initiatives.

The Uzbek leader congratulated the German delegation on the 75th anniversary of the founding of the Federal Republic of Germany and the upcoming German Unity Day.

The main focus of the talks was on further deepening cooperation between the two countries. The leaders discussed the positive outcomes of last year’s meetings in Berlin, which spurred practical collaboration across various sectors. It was noted that trade turnover between Uzbekistan and Germany has exceeded €1 billion, with German companies investing €800 million in the Uzbek economy in recent years.

Special attention was given to expanding financial and technical cooperation, particularly through KfW and the German Society for International Cooperation (GIZ). Cultural cooperation was also highlighted, including last year’s exhibition of Uzbekistan’s cultural heritage in Berlin and the opening of the Avicenna and Heinrich Schipperges Higher School of Medical Sciences in Samarkand.

Both sides expressed interest in strengthening ties between parliaments, governments, and foreign ministries, and agreed to hold regular consultations on international and regional issues, including the situation in Afghanistan.

Additionally, they discussed Uzbekistan’s participation in the Climate Club and strengthening partnerships within the framework of the United Nations, the OSCE, and other international organizations. Strategic programs for industrial and technological cooperation were also emphasized, including projects in “green” energy, the chemical industry, engineering, and textile production.

The sides expressed their readiness to accelerate the implementation of major projects, such as building power plants with Siemens Energy, producing “green” ammonia with the Linde Group, and developing copper deposits with the participation of KfW Ipex-Bank.

New projects in the areas of localized pump systems, renewable energy, medical equipment production, and the creation of logistics centers were also discussed. The leaders agreed to continue active work on the introduction of advanced technologies and the development of investment incentive mechanisms.

President Mirziyoyev proposed resuming direct Lufthansa flights to Uzbekistan and highlighted the importance of expanding cooperation between Uzbekistan’s regions and Germany’s federal states.

A labor migration agreement was signed, aimed at developing transparent cooperation in this area, along with a proposal to create a "roadmap" for preparing and sending Uzbek specialists to Germany.

The meeting also focused on educational and scientific exchanges and the spread of the German dual education model in Uzbekistan’s regions. The launch of a University Forum between the two countries and the creation of German university faculties in Uzbekistan were also discussed. A special mention was made of the victory of an Uzbek student at the World German Language Olympiad, underscoring the youth’s interest in learning German.

At the end of the meeting, both sides agreed to prepare and adopt a joint “roadmap” to implement all the agreements and signed deals.