On the Establishment of Strategic Partnership Relationships

08.09.2026

Joint declaration

between the Republic of Uzbekistan and the Republic of Serbia

The Republic of Uzbekistan and the Republic of Serbia, hereinafter referred to as the “Parties”,

Recognizing the strength and dynamism of bilateral ties and mutual desire to further consolidate close and friendly relations,

Proceeding from their relations, based on friendship, partnership, sovereign equality, mutual respect and trust, and convergence of their interests in various fields,

Reiterating their adherence to the Charter of the United Nations, and the principles and norms of the international law,

Reaffirming their unequivocal support to each otherʼs independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity within their international borders,

Stressing the need to promote multilateralism and the reforms of the United Nations system as a core of the international multilateral system,

Underlining their commitment to promotion and protection of shared fundamental values, such as democracy, rule of law, human rights and fundamental freedoms,

Acknowledging the importance to increase efforts to further develop economic cooperation, including diversification of bilateral trade and promotion of mutual investments,

Acknowledging the role of cultural diplomacy in promoting mutual understanding, and environment of mutual respect, trust, and friendship in a long-term perspective of their bilateral relations,

Confirming the strong, steady and deepening bilateral cooperation and joint willingness to establish strategic partnership,

1. The Parties underlined their determination to elevate the relations to the level of strategic partnership relationships in the following areas:

I. Political, Defence and Security Cooperation

The Parties, as strategic partners, strongly support each otherʼs independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity, as well as refrain from any actions that could affect the interests of one of the Parties and/or harm the strategic partnership of the two states

The Parties will support the dynamics of mutual high-level visits and regular high-level dialogue based on their strategic interests.

The Parties will intensify the regular political consultations between the Ministries of Foreign Affairs, as an essential mechanism in terms of reviewing the entire spectrum of bilateral relations and exploring the new areas for future cooperation, as well as exchanging views on regional and international issues of mutual interest.

The Parties will enhance cooperation in combating terrorism and all forms of transnational organized crime, including illicit trafficking in weapons, money laundering, human trafficking, illegal migration and other security threats and challenges of common concern.

The Parties will expand dialogue and cooperation in the fields of security policy, in accordance with the principle of mutual benefit and with the Partiesʼ national legislation, as well as with the international law.

The Parties will promote closer ties between foreign policy and security research and expert organizations.

The Parties will establish a framework for cooperation in the fields of international humanitarian aid and development assistance in third countries in order to support the efforts of international community to this end.

The Parties will promote the strengthening of inter-parliamentary cooperation, both bilaterally and in the framework of international and regional parliamentary platforms, through regular reciprocal visits and meetings of speakers, committees, friendship groups and other parliamentary representatives.

II. Economy, Trade, Energy, Transport, and Agriculture

The Parties will further enhance and diversify economic and trade relations in order to meet objectives of the strategic partnership.

The Parties will encourage the activity of the Uzbek — Serbian Joint Commission on Economic Cooperation (hereinafter referred to as “the Joint Commission”) as a significant mechanism aimed to coordinate and promote bilateral economic cooperation.

The Parties will explore new opportunities for developing trade exchanges and mutual investments, as well as make all possible efforts to strengthen legal framework and improve the business climate for further promotion of trade and investments as important sectors of bilateral economic partnership.

The Parties will further strengthen the development of energy cooperation as an important base for bilateral economic cooperation.

The Parties will evaluate the possibilities of establishing a direct air connection to boost tourism, trade and cultural exchange.

Uzbekistan invites investors from Serbia, particularly those engaged in high-value added and export-oriented manufacturing, to consider establishing their businesses at Uzbek Free Economic Zones.

Serbia invites companies from Uzbekistan to explore the favorable investment opportunities available in Serbia and establish their businesses in sectors that align with the mutual interests of both countries.

The Parties will further promote the cooperation between small and medium-sized enterprises, economic zones, chambers of commerce, and other entrepreneurial organizations in both countries.

The Parties invite companies from both countries to actively participate in the trade fairs, exhibitions and business forums held in Uzbekistan and Serbia.

The Parties will explore opportunities for joint participation in infrastructure projects in third countries.

The Parties will explore transport routes for goods flows between Europe and Asia through their territories, acknowledging the growing importance of the Middle Corridor as a vital part of the global supply chain.

The Parties expressed their wish to increase the volume and expand the range of mutual trade. They also emphasized the creation of favorable conditions for increasing the supply of equipment and advanced technologies from Serbia to Uzbekistan.

The Parties will strengthen cooperation in environmental protection, including initiatives to address climate change, promote sustainable development, and protect natural resources.

The Parties will support the exchange of expertise and the best practices in water management, including water resource management, conservation and efficiency.

The Parties will encourage cooperation in tourism promotion and cultural exchange to increase mutual understanding and people-to-people connections between Uzbekistan and Serbia.

III. Education, Science, Culture, and People-to-People Contacts

The Parties will strengthen and enhance cooperation in the fields of culture and education to raise the public awareness among population of both countries, and will further encourage the people-to-people contacts and twinning projects between the cities and regions, as well as the schools and universities.

The Parties will enhance cooperation in the field of science and technology through an innovation-focused approach with a long-term perspective for further developing and diversifying their bilateral relations.

The Parties will continue to cooperate in the field of supporting and developing cultural and language activities in each otherʼs territory.

The Parties will enhance the cooperation in the fields of education, science and culture by adopting action plans and programs, and will promote student, doctoral and academic exchange programs, workshops and double degree diplomas between the high-level education institutions.

The Parties will share information on reforms and modernization of vocational education and training systems, and further promote access to adult education.

The Parties expressed mutual interest in deepening cooperation in the field of external labour migration.

IV. International and Regional Cooperation

The Parties will continue to promote a reformed, reinvigorated and strengthened multilateral system, with a particular emphasis on United Nations system aimed at ensuring equitable and fairer geographic representation in the Security Council, which will efficiently address threats to international peace and security.

The Parties emphasize their readiness to continue cooperation and mutually beneficial support within the international organizations and to support their legitimate interests based on the UN Charter and other key norms of the international law.

Uzbekistan and Serbia express their readiness to strengthen cooperation within the framework of UNESCO.

The Serbian side supports Uzbekistanʼs efforts in ensuring peace, sustainable development, and good-neighborly relations in Central Asia, and particularly emphasizes the significance of the Consultative Meetings of the Heads of State of Central Asia, which play an important role in strengthening regional subjectivity.

The Parties will continue close interaction to discuss and coordinate positions within international organizations, as well as mutual support of candidacies in the election bodies of international organizations, including the UN, OSCE, and other multilateral structures.

2. The Parties will take all necessary measures to further develop bilateral treaty-law framework.

3. The present Joint Declaration is not directed against any other State or a group of States, and does not infringe the rights and/or commitments of the Parties under the international bilateral or multilateral agreements which they are party to, including the Republic of Serbia obligations arising from the process of European integration.

Signed in Belgrade, on 8 September 2026, in two original copies, in Uzbek, Serbian and English.

(signatures)