Tashkent/New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi was on Sunday conferred Uzbekistan’s highest state honour, the Order of ‘Oliy Darajali Do’stlik’, by President Shavkat Mirziyoyev during his state visit to Tashkent.
The prestigious award was presented to Modi at the Kuksaroy Presidential Palace, recognising his contribution to strengthening the strategic partnership and deepening the longstanding ties between India and Uzbekistan.
Accepting the honour, Prime Minister Modi described it as a matter of great honour and dedicated the award to the enduring friendship between the two countries. The recognition comes at a time when India-Uzbekistan relations are expanding across several strategic and economic areas.
𝐀 𝐦𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐨𝐟 𝐩𝐮𝐫𝐞 𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐩𝐞𝐜𝐭 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐟𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐝𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐩.
President Mirziyoyev presented Uzbekistan’s highest state award, the ‘Oliy Darajali Do‘stlik’ Order, to PM Modi. 🎥 pic.twitter.com/h8xDaLbMsV
— BJP (@BJP4India) August 30, 2026
Focus on strategic partnership
Modi’s two-day state visit to Uzbekistan, which began on August 29, is his fourth visit to the Central Asian nation. At the invitation of President Mirziyoyev, the visit is focused on taking the bilateral strategic partnership to a new level.
During their talks at the Presidential Palace, the two leaders are reviewing cooperation in trade and investment, defence, digital connectivity, energy, education and people-to-people ties. Discussions are also expected to cover new opportunities in areas such as healthcare, pharmaceuticals, agriculture, mining and connectivity.
The two sides are also looking to build on their shared development visions of ‘Viksit Bharat 2047’ and ‘Uzbekistan-2030’, reflecting a broader effort to expand economic and strategic cooperation.
A significant diplomatic gesture
The conferring of Uzbekistan’s top state honour on Modi adds a symbolic dimension to the Prime Minister’s visit. It comes as both countries seek to strengthen their partnership amid growing Indian engagement with Central Asia.
Modi received a warm welcome on his arrival in Tashkent, with President Mirziyoyev personally receiving him. The Uzbek capital was decorated with Indian flags and public displays ahead of the visit, while members of the Indian diaspora also gathered to welcome the Prime Minister.
The visit is the first leg of Modi’s four-day Central Asia tour. From Uzbekistan, he is scheduled to travel to Bishkek, Kyrgyz Republic, to participate in the 26th Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summit from August 31 to September 1.
The award therefore comes against the backdrop of an increasingly broad India-Uzbekistan relationship—one that combines historical and civilisational links with cooperation in security, commerce, technology, energy and regional affairs
