Congratulatory message of the Ambassador of Romania to the people of Uzbekistan on the occasion of the 31st anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations

**Congratulatory Address of the Ambassador of Romania to the People of Uzbekistan on the Occasion of the 31st Anniversary of the Establishment of Diplomatic Relations**

On the occasion of the 31st anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Romania and the Republic of Uzbekistan, the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Romania, H.E. Mr. Daniel Cristian Ciobanu, sends the following congratulatory message to the people of Uzbekistan:

On October 6, 2026, Romania and the Republic of Uzbekistan celebrate the 31st anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations. Please accept my heartfelt congratulations on this significant date! I wish prosperity, fruitful development, and the strengthening of mutually beneficial cooperation between our countries!

Romania highly values its relations with Uzbekistan and looks forward to further strengthening the dialogue and cooperation between our countries. Uzbekistan is an important partner of Romania in Central Asia. Romania will actively support the deepening of cooperation between the European Union and the Republic of Uzbekistan, as well as the promotion of new projects of mutual interest that contribute to regional stability and the strengthening of connectivity between our regions.

I express my satisfaction that the volume of bilateral trade turnover in the period 2020–2025 grew by more than 377% (according to the National Committee of the Republic of Uzbekistan on Statistics), and 2025 became one of the best years in the history of Romanian-Uzbek relations in terms of the value of mutual trade. An important event was the signing in Tashkent on November 27, 2025, by the Minister of Transport of the Republic of Uzbekistan and myself, of the Protocol on Amendments to the Agreement between the Government of Romania and the Government of the Republic of Uzbekistan on Cooperation in the Field of Road Transit Transport (Bucharest, June 6, 1996). Along with this, Romania and Uzbekistan are strengthening cooperation in the field of civil aviation, as evidenced by the Memorandum of Understanding signed on September 30, 2026, in Tashkent between the Romanian Civil Aeronautical Authority and the "Uzaviation" Agency.

A special moment in our relations was the holding in March 2026, in a videoconference format, of the first bilateral consular consultations between the Ministries of Foreign Affairs of Romania and Uzbekistan. A significant element of interaction in the parliamentary sphere was the visit to Uzbekistan in September 2026 of Senator Elena-Adelina Dobra to participate in the XII World Conference of Young Parliamentarians of the Inter-Parliamentary Union.

The cultural and humanitarian sphere is rich with many joint achievements. It is worth noting the visit to Uzbekistan of the Minister of Education of Romania in October 2025 and the successful participation of the Romanian delegation in the 43rd session of the UNESCO General Conference in Samarkand. In March 2026, the Embassy of Romania organized a creative masterclass in Tashkent, designed to present Romanian folk traditions on the occasion of the celebration of the beginning of spring, and in May presented Romanian culinary art within the framework of the XXII International Charity Festival of Cultural Traditions and National Dishes. Also in March 2026, a Romanian-French poetry evening dedicated to the poet Gherasim Luca took place in the capital of Uzbekistan. In April 2026, two vibrant events were held in Tashkent: the photo exhibition "The Monumental Ensemble 'The Heroes' Path' in Târgu Jiu. A Tribute to Constantin Brâncuși (1876–1957) on the 150th Anniversary of His Birth" and a photo exhibition titled "George Enescu in France." In May 2026, the vocal ensemble "Jazzappella" represented Romania at the International Jazz Festival in Tashkent. Romanian representatives took part in the "Toshkent Bahori" International Opera and Ballet Festival and in the "Atlas Bayrami" International Festival in Margilan. I am also very pleased that this year Uzbekistan became one of the filming locations for the ninth season of the popular Romanian TV show "Asia Express – The Silk Road." The episodes filmed in Uzbekistan aired in Romania in September 2026 and showcased the remarkable cities of Uzbekistan, its rich cultural heritage, and the warm hospitality of its people. Bilateral cultural exchange also developed in Romania: in April, the exhibition "Miniature of Uzbekistan: Tradition and Modernism" took place in the city of Constanța, and in September, artists of the Uzbek vocal and dance ensemble "Bukharcha" performed national dances in Bucharest.

I look to the future with great optimism. For me personally, it was a high honor to be awarded the commemorative badge "Ўзбекистон Республикаси мустақиллигининг 35 йиллиги" (35 Years of Independence of the Republic of Uzbekistan), established by the Decree of the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan. I view this award as a testament to high trust and a significant incentive for further productive interaction. I express my sincere gratitude and deep appreciation to the Uzbek side for the fruitful cooperation!