The Republic of Uzbekistan and the Italian Republic, hereinafter referred to as the “Parties”,

Noting the deep historical ties between the peoples of Uzbekistan and Italy, the traditions of fruitful cooperation that have been developed since the establishment of diplomatic relations between the Parties as two equal and friendly states,

Considering the high level and multidimensional nature of their relations based on the principles of mutual respect for the state sovereignty, independence, territorial integrity and non-interference in each otherʼs internal affairs, as well as mutual trust and convergence of interests in various fields,

Emphasizing the continuing high significance of the provisions of the Joint Declaration of Principles on Relations between the Republic of Uzbekistan and the Italian Republic dated May 3, 1997, and the Treaty of Friendship and Cooperation between the Republic of Uzbekistan and the Italian Republic dated September 17, 1997,

Reaffirming mutual commitment to the purposes and principles set forth in the Charter of the United Nations, the Helsinki Final Act and other basic international legal instruments promoting peace and security, protection of human rights and development of effective inter-state cooperation in Europe and Asia,

Noting the mutual commitment to democracy, respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms,

Emphasizing the need to respect the international order based on the basic principles of international law, such as respect for the independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity of all countries,

Aspiring to the development of long-term cooperation and its further expansion into new areas of mutual interest,

Declare the following:

1. The Parties hereby declare the establishment of strategic partnership relationships between them with a view to deepening and expanding cooperation between the two countries and societies, both in bilateral and multilateral formats.

2. This strategic partnership includes enhanced cooperation in the following areas:

Establishment of a Strategic Dialogue, which shall be held at least once every two years in Uzbekistan and Italy on a rotating basis, with the participation of representatives of the Parties, co-chaired by the Ministers for Foreign Affairs or designated deputy ministers, to discuss bilateral relations, global and regional issues of common interest;

Holding regular political consultations at the level of the Foreign Ministries of the Parties to promote dialogue and cooperation on topical bilateral, regional and international issues, with the adoption of biannual cooperation programs;

Taking into account the high outcomes achieved within the framework of the Partnership and Cooperation Agreement between the Republic of Uzbekistan, on the one hand, and the European Communities and their Member States, on the other hand, signed on June 21, 1996, in Florence, further support by Italy to strengthen relations between Uzbekistan and the EU, including in issues of conclusion and entry into force of the Enhanced Partnership and Cooperation Agreement between Uzbekistan and the European Union;

Promoting further development of cooperation and regular exchanges between the parliaments of Uzbekistan and Italy, promotion of interaction through the relevant friendship groups of legislative bodies, including multilateral parliamentary forums;

Supporting the establishment and expansion of contacts and implementation of joint projects between regions and cities of both countries in order to develop interregional relations in trade, economic and cultural cooperation and tourism;

Encouraging closer ties between foreign policy think tanks and research institutes to enhance exchanges and facilitate cooperation;

Strengthening dialogue and interaction within the Italy-Central Asia format involving all interested organizations, mutual support of initiatives to develop multidimensional and long-term cooperation on this platform;

Strengthening cooperation and mutual support within the United Nations, including specialized agencies and institutions, the OSCE and other international organizations of which the Parties are members;

Strengthening and expanding military and military-technical cooperation at the bilateral level on the basis of the Agreement between the Government of the Republic of Uzbekistan and the Government of the Italian Republic on cooperation in the field of defense dated November 26, 1999, as well as within the framework of the Partnership for Peace programme;

Strengthening practical cooperation in the fight against organized crime, terrorism and illicit trafficking in drugs and psychotropic substances;

Implementing cooperation in the exchange of legal information and application of legal acts;

Continuing the negotiation process for the conclusion of certain agreements in the spheres envisaged in the Treaty on Friendship and Cooperation between the Republic of Uzbekistan and the Italian Republic dated September 17, 1997.

Developing the economic cooperation on the basis of the principles of mutual respect for the Partiesʼ interests, equality and mutual benefit through the methods and forms stipulated in the Joint Declaration on Economic Cooperation between the Republic of Uzbekistan and the Italian Republic dated May 3, 1997 and other intergovernmental agreements in force;

Strengthening the systematic work of the Intergovernmental Working Group on Trade, Economic and Industrial Cooperation and Export Credits by holding its meetings at least once every two years with the achievement of specific agreements;

Increasing the volume and expanding the range of mutual trade through the use of opportunities for exports from Uzbekistan to the European Union within the GSP+ preferential system, as well as to further increase the supply of equipment and advanced technologies from Italy for industry in Uzbekistan;

Strengthening and diversification of cooperation in priority areas of the economy — energy, transport, tourism infrastructure, medicine, pharmaceuticals, information technology, agriculture and metallurgy, production of building materials and electrical products, furniture, leather, textile and silk products, cars and spare parts, processing of fruits and vegetables, winemaking, animal husbandry, food production;

Creating favorable conditions for increasing and protecting mutual investments, including through more active participation in bilateral economic projects by the specialized organizations, agencies and funds, such as the Italian Investment Bank “Cassa Depositi e Prestiti SpA” and the Fund for Reconstruction and Development of Uzbekistan;

Promoting establishment and development of a regular dialogue between the business organizations of the two countries, including small and medium-sized enterprises, by opening representative offices of business organizations in the two countries, creating joint ventures, exchanging delegations, holding business forums and seminars, joint participation in thematic exhibitions, creating trading houses and other economic activities;

Expanding cooperation within the framework of international economic, commercial and financial institutions and forums;

Establishing and developing the cooperation in the effective transfer of Italian industrial technologies, by means of opening educational centers in Uzbekistan for training and professional development of workers and engineering staff of production enterprises in Uzbekistan to master and apply in practice the latest developments and applied knowledge of the Italian industrial sector.

Promoting existing and new forms of cultural and humanitarian cooperation in accordance with the provisions of the Agreement between the Government of the Republic of Uzbekistan and the Government of the Italian Republic on Cultural and Scientific Cooperation dated May 3, 1997;

Promoting cultural cooperation and wider coverage each otherʼs cultural heritage and achievements through exhibitions, cultural and artistic events, including the teaching and dissemination of the Uzbek and Italian languages;

Stimulating the implementation of joint programs and projects, establishment of joint ventures, exchange of scientists and specialists and other forms of cooperation in the field of preservation, protection, use and restoration of archaeological, artistic and cultural heritage through exchange of information, experience, joint publications and expert visits;

Promoting cooperation in the basic and applied sciences for the implementation of advanced techniques and innovative technologies, and exchanges between scientific and research institutions, including through scholarship and grant programs;

Providing further expansion of cooperation in higher education through the strengthening of partnership ties between educational institutions, exchange of students and teachers, establishment of joint study programs, faculties and higher education institutions;

Promoting intercultural and interreligious dialogue through joint initiatives;

Strengthening “public diplomacy” by intensifying friendships between citizens, especially young people, and youth unions in the fields of culture, education, media, health and social welfare, youth and sports;

Promoting increase of tourist flows between the two countries and cooperation between tourism organizations, and regular direct flights on the basis of provisions of the Agreement between the Government of the Republic of Uzbekistan and the Government of the Italian Republic on Cooperation in Tourism dated May 3, 1997 and the Agreement between the Government of the Republic of Uzbekistan and the Government of the Italian Republic on Air Communication dated December 23, 1999.

3. The Parties shall agree on the forms and directions of cooperation in each specific area. Implementation of this Declaration will be coordinated by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Uzbekistan and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of the Italian Republic.

4. The strategic partnership of the Parties is not directed against any other State or group of States and shall not affect the rights and obligations of the Parties arising from bilateral and multilateral international treaties in force to which they are parties. This strategic partnership is not an international treaty and consequently does not create rights and obligations under international law.

Adopted in Rome on June 8, 2023, in duplicate, each in Uzbek, Italian and English.