Uzbekistan and Georgia Sign Declaration on Strategic Partnership, Involving "China–Georgia–Uzbekistan Railway" and Black Sea Port Connectivity

Peace Bridge spanning the Mtkvari River in Tbilisi; Image source: Stephen M. Bland

Uzbekistan and Georgia have signed a declaration establishing a strategic partnership, adding a new dimension to their relationship, primarily driven by trade and trans-Eurasian transit routes.

On July 3, during President Shavkat Mirziyoyev of Uzbekistan’s state visit to Georgia, he held talks with Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze. The two sides also exchanged documents on agreements and memoranda of understanding covering customs, digitalization, education, agriculture, tourism, environmental protection, labor migration, healthcare, and nuclear and radiation safety.

This marked the first visit by an Uzbek president to Georgia in 23 years. Mirziyoyev met separately with Georgian President Mikheil Kavelashvili and Prime Minister Kobakhidze on July 2 and July 3, respectively. Prior to the signing ceremony, Georgian Foreign Minister Maka Botchorishvili told Georgia's First Channel (1TV) that this visit represented a "historic opportunity to elevate bilateral relations" and linked the agenda directly to the "Middle Corridor" strategy.

A concrete, practical diplomatic move is Tashkent’s decision to open an embassy in Georgia. Although diplomatic relations were established between the two countries in August 1994, Uzbekistan currently has no embassy in Georgia and instead entrusts its embassy in Baku (Azerbaijan) with handling affairs related to Georgia.

The Uzbekistan Presidential Office stated that bilateral trade reached $270 million in 2025, and already exceeded $100 million from the beginning of 2026. Both governments plan to develop a dedicated roadmap aiming to raise trade volume to $1 billion within the coming years and reduce trade imbalances. After the talks, Uzbek side confirmed that both governments had agreed on "specific steps to significantly increase trade and deepen industrial cooperation in key sectors."

The agreement places particular emphasis on Georgia’s ports, giving it a distinct regional cooperation character. Mirziyoyev and Kobakhidze discussed expanding the use of the ports of Poti and Batumi for transporting Uzbek goods, supporting the establishment of logistics hubs in Georgia, along with accompanying industrial parks and Uzbek product exhibition centers. A business forum held prior to the signing attracted around 300 participants, including representatives from Georgian enterprises in logistics, pharmaceuticals, finance, information technology (IT), tourism, and agribusiness.

Georgia has become a crucial South Caucasus corridor for Central Asian cargo heading toward the Black Sea and Turkey. While Uzbekistan develops rail connections to China, Afghanistan, and the Caspian Sea, it is also seeking additional western transport routes. Recently, *Central Asia Times* reported discussions between Kyrgyzstan and Georgia on linking the "China–Kyrgyzstan–Uzbekistan" railway to Georgia’s port infrastructure. Mirziyoyev also proposed the same idea in Tbilisi, suggesting integration between the "Baku–Tbilisi–Kars" railway corridor and the ongoing "China–Kyrgyzstan–Uzbekistan" railway project.

This proposal would firmly embed Georgia into Uzbekistan’s export planning. Over the past five years, the volume of Uzbek foreign trade cargo transported via the "Middle Corridor" has doubled, and is expected to reach 1.2 million tons by the end of 2025. Industrial cooperation has moved beyond general commitments. The two sides signed a cooperation plan covering up to 2027 and discussed projects in agriculture, electrical engineering, energy, pharmaceuticals, food processing, construction materials, digital services, and tourism. Leaders also proposed establishing a joint fund to support various new initiatives.

With the launch of direct flights, people-to-people exchanges between the two nations are growing stronger. Direct flight routes now connect Tashkent with Tbilisi and Batumi, operating 13 weekly direct flights. In 2025, over 21,500 Uzbek tourists visited Georgia; simultaneously, 6,800 Georgian tourists traveled to Uzbekistan—up from just 3,000 in 2019.

Cultural exchange was also a major focus of this visit. Georgia hosted "Georgian Culture Day" events in Tashkent in March, and Tbilisi has decided to name a park after the Uzbek poet Alisher Navoi. Additionally, during his visit, Mirziyoyev was awarded Georgia’s highest national honor—the Order of the Golden Fleece.

This joint statement establishes a formal framework for both governments to advance the aforementioned projects. For Uzbekistan, Georgia offers a gateway to Europe; for Georgia, Uzbekistan brings not only increased freight volumes and investment prospects but also a new Central Asian partner, helping Tbilisi transform its geographical advantage into a trade advantage.

Source: Central Asia Times

Author: Stephen M. Bland

Original article: toutiao.com/article/1869765296608490/

Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are those of the author alone.