The second meeting will take place in Samarkand, although the two countries have not announced an official date.
Qatar and Uzbekistan held their first Coordination Council meeting in Doha on Thursday, marking a new milestone in both countries’ relations.
Uzbek Foreign Minister Bakhtiyor Saidov visited the Gulf state to represent his country during the meeting, whereas Qatar’s Prime Minister and Foreign Minister, Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, represented the Qatari side.
Earlier, Saidov met Qatar’s Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani at the Amiri Diwan.
The meeting highlighted Qatar and Uzbekistan’s relations of more than two decades that are based on “a strong foundation for constructive cooperation”, the Qatari foreign ministry said in a statement.
A key focus was the enhancement of Qatar and Uzbekistan’s relations in various aspects, including the political dialogue, trade and investment, and cultural cooperation.
“Our meeting represents a new strategic milestone between us. We affirm our shared determination to continue working together to achieve greater integration and prosperity,” Sheikh Mohammed said on X.
The meeting built on an agreement signed in April 2024 on the strategic partnership and the establishment of the coordination council between Qatar and Uzbekistan. The second meeting will take place in Samarkand, although the two countries have not announced an official date.
Sheikh Mohammed, during the meeting in Doha, underlined Qatar and Uzbekistan’s economic relations, with their trade exchange reaching $1.8m (around QAR 6,557,880) in 2024 alone.
The top Qatari official also welcomed Uzbekistan’s hosting of next year’s GCC–Central Asia Summit and organisation of the UNESCO General Conference in Samarkand, scheduled to take place between October 30 to November 13.
The Uzbek official also welcomed Doha’s hosting of the Second World Social Summit between November 4-6 as well as the announcement of its candidacy to host the 2036 Olympic Games.
Qatar-Uzbekistan’s expanding ties
Doha and Tashkent’s bilateral ties date back to 1997, when both countries signed a protocol that officially marked the start of their diplomatic relations. Both countries then established resident embassies in 2023, according to Qatar’s foreign ministry.
The two countries have since signed around 40 agreements in numerous sectors including economic, political, investment, and cultural cooperation.
The year 2023 witnessed frequent state visits between the leaders of both countries. In June and December 2023, Qatar’s Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani visited Uzbekistan. Uzbekistan’s President Shavkat Mirziyoyev visited Qatar in October of the same year.
People-to-people cooperation has been among the key pillars of Qatar and Uzbekistan’s ties, especially with the easing of mutual travel. This was seen on August 7, 2023 when Uzbekistan exempted Qataris from visit visa requirements.
The launch of direct flights between both countries on June 2, 2024 marked another significant move that brought the people of Qatar and Uzbekistan closer.
Qatar and Uzbekistan share a strong commitment to cultural cooperation, particularly towards the preservation of Islamic heritage.
In October 2024, the Qatar Fund for Development and the Uzbekistan Foundation for the Development of Art and Culture signed a $4,175,000 (around QAR15.2m) agreement to restore the Bibi-Khanym Mosque complex in Samarkand.
This followed an agreement on September 5, 2024 between the Qatar National Library and the National Library of Uzbekistan aimed at enriching the understanding and recognition of their shared Islamic heritage.
