Georgian President Mikheil Kavelashvili presented Uzbekistan’s President Shavkat Mirziyoyev with the Order of the Golden Fleece, one of Georgia’s highest state honors, during an official ceremony in Tbilisi. The award was bestowed in recognition of Mirziyoyev’s contribution to strengthening bilateral relations and his support for Georgia’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.

The ceremony took place as part of Mirziyoyev’s first state visit to Georgia. In addition to meeting with President Kavelashvili, the Uzbek leader held talks with Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze. The central outcome of the visit was the signing of a Joint Declaration on Strategic Partnership, marking a new stage in relations between the two countries.

The two sides also signed a package of intergovernmental agreements covering economic cooperation, transport, healthcare, agriculture, education, digital technologies, culture, customs administration, and financial cooperation.

A key focus of the talks was the development of the Middle Corridor, the transport route linking China and Central Asia with Europe via the Caspian Sea, Azerbaijan, and Georgia. Both Tbilisi and Tashkent view the corridor as a strategic component of Eurasian connectivity. Uzbekistan has been actively diversifying its export routes in recent years, while Georgia seeks to strengthen its position as a major transit hub in the South Caucasus.

Following the negotiations, the leaders reaffirmed their intention to significantly expand bilateral trade and investment. Officials said the long-term goal is to increase annual trade turnover to $1 billion through the development of transport infrastructure, logistics centers, and joint investment projects.

Established in 1998, the Order of the Golden Fleece is among Georgia’s most prestigious state decorations. It is awarded to distinguished foreign leaders and public figures for their outstanding contribution to strengthening Georgia’s international relations. Previous recipients include Queen Elizabeth II, King Abdullah II of Jordan, former German Chancellor Gerhard Schröder, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, and Azerbaijan’s former president, Heydar Aliyev.

Mirziyoyev’s visit reflects Georgia’s broader strategy of strengthening ties with Central Asian countries. Amid increasingly complex relations with some Western partners, Tbilisi has intensified cooperation with Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, and other regional states, placing greater emphasis on trade, transport connectivity, and infrastructure development. For Uzbekistan, closer cooperation with Georgia provides additional access to European markets through Black Sea ports, while for Georgia it reinforces the country’s role as a key transit gateway between Europe and Central Asia.

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05.07.2026 04:25