TASHKENT, June 16. /Dunyo IA/. On June 16–17^th, President of Albania Bajram Begaj, will pay an official visit to Uzbekistan and attend the 5^th Tashkent International Investment Forum (TIIF), reports Dunyo IA correspondent.

In recent years, Uzbekistan and Albania have demonstrated a steadfast commitment to intensifying bilateral relations and expanding multifaceted cooperation across a broad spectrum of areas. Despite the geographical distance, the sides attach particular importance to advancing political dialogue, as well as strengthening trade, economic, cultural and humanitarian interaction.

Diplomatic relations between the Republic of Uzbekistan and the Republic of Albania were established on November 23^rd, 1993. Currently, official interstate engagement is maintained through the Embassy of Uzbekistan in Vienna and Embassy of Albania in Moscow.

In recent years, political contacts between the two states have noticeably intensified. A significant milestone in the development of bilateral relations was the meeting between President of Uzbekistan and President of Albania Bajram Begaj, which took place on September 23^rd, 2025, in New York on the sidelines of the milestone 80^th session of the UN General Assembly. During the talks, the sides reviewed issues of further expanding cooperation in the political-diplomatic, trade-economic and cultural-humanitarian spheres. Special attention was paid to establishing sustainable mechanisms for political dialogue and economic interaction. Following the negotiations, the parties reaffirmed their mutual interest in elevating Uzbek-Albanian relations to a qualitatively new level.

The advancement of Uzbek-Albanian cooperation in recent years has been accompanied by the intensification of interaction between the foreign ministries of the two countries. A significant step in this direction was the meeting between Minister of Foreign Affairs of Uzbekistan and Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs of Albania Igli Hasani, held on September 24^th, 2024, on the sidelines of the 79^th session of the UN General Assembly in New York. Following the talks, an intergovernmental Agreement on a visa-free regime for diplomatic passport holders was signed, marking a significant contribution to enhancing the legal framework of bilateral relations.

The cooperation was further advanced following a meeting between the head of the foreign policy department of Uzbekistan and Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs of Albania Elisa Spiropali, held on September 25^th, 2025, within the framework of the 80^th session of the UN General Assembly. During the talks, a Protocol on Cooperation between the ministries of foreign affairs of the two countries was signed, providing for the conduct of regular political consultations and the further consolidation of inter-agency interaction.

The signing of the aforementioned documents contributed to the formation of additional institutional mechanisms for bilateral interaction. The practical implementation of the reached agreements culminated in the first round of Uzbek-Albanian political consultations between the ministries of foreign affairs, held on April 30^th, 2026. Conducted in an online format, these consultations marked an important milestone in the establishment of a regular political dialogue between the two states. The creation of such a mechanism opens up additional opportunities for discussing topical issues on the bilateral agenda and coordinating approaches on matters of mutual interest.

Alongside political dialogue, trade and economic cooperation occupies an important place in the structure of Uzbek-Albanian relations, which currently does not fully correspond to the existing potential.

Despite the relatively modest volumes of mutual trade, Uzbekistan and Albania are working together on priority areas for expanding cooperation, including in the investment sphere. In this context, the participation of the President of Albania Bajram Begaj, in the 5^th Tashkent International Investment Forum will serve as an important signal to the business communities of both nations regarding the necessity of building up mutually beneficial ties.

According to the assessments of both sides, promising areas of interaction include the development of trade and economic ties, increasing the supply of competitive products, expanding cooperation in the services sector, and strengthening contacts between the business communities of the two nations. Furthermore, the sides attach significant importance to the further advancement of cultural and humanitarian exchange, as well as reinforcing collaboration within international platforms.

The consistent intensification of political dialogue, the enhancement of the bilateral legal framework, and the launching of mechanisms for regular inter-agency consultations create highly favourable conditions for the further deepening of relations. In this context, Uzbekistan and Albania demonstrate a steadfast mutual interest in developing multifaceted cooperation based on the principles of sovereign equality, mutual respect, and due consideration for each other's interests.

It is anticipated that the progressive advancement of the bilateral dialogue will contribute to the further consolidation of ties between the two states and yield new horizons for practical cooperation across various fields.

Photo from the archive of the Press Service of the President of Uzbekistan