India and Uzbekistan have agreed to elevate their relationship to a comprehensive strategic partnership, with both sides also moving towards a long-term arrangement for uranium supplies, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said…

India and Uzbekistan have agreed to elevate their relationship to a comprehensive strategic partnership, with both sides also moving towards a long-term arrangement for uranium supplies, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Sunday.Modi made the announcement during bilateral talks with Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev in Tashkent, where he is on a two-day visit aimed at expanding cooperation in areas such as trade, clean energy and connectivity.India, Uzbekistan agree to deepen cooperation in trade, defence, energy, digital connectivityIndia has been exploring uranium supplies from Uzbekistan to meet the fuel requirements of its civilian nuclear power programme.“We are celebrating the 15th anniversary of our strategic partnership. I am delighted that, on this special occasion, we are elevating our ties to the level of a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership,” Modi said in his opening remarks at the bilateral talks.“We will move forward by setting concrete goals within this framework,” he said in Hindi.Referring to his dinner meeting with Mirziyoyev on Saturday night, Modi said the two leaders had held “productive talks” and taken several key decisions.“We had a productive discussion over dinner last night and took several important decisions,” Modi said.He said the two countries would create a Coordination Council headed by their foreign ministers to oversee and guide bilateral cooperation.“We will establish a Coordination Council at the level of foreign ministers to provide direction to all aspects of our cooperation through close coordination,” Modi said.The existing joint commission between the two countries will also be upgraded from the secretary-level to the ministerial level, he added.The two sides further plan to jointly host a business summit bringing together business leaders from India and Uzbekistan.“Both sides will jointly organise a business summit featuring business leaders from both nations.”“We will also establish a long-term arrangement for the supply of uranium,” he said.(With PTI inputs)

Source: Deccan Herald