Uzbekistan and Hungary: Strategic partnership in a new era

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President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev will pay an official visit to Hungary from May 19 to 21 and will also take part in the informal summit of the Organization of Turkic States, which will be held in Budapest.

Diplomatic relations between Uzbekistan and Hungary were established on 14 March 1992, shortly after Uzbekistan’s independence. Since then, bilateral cooperation has undergone a significant evolution - from formal interaction to building a constructive and mutually respectful dialogue.

The foundation for today’s intensive cooperation was laid in March 2021, when, following the visit of Prime Minister of Hungary Viktor Orbаn to Tashkent, a Joint Declaration on Strategic Partnership was signed. This document solidified the parties’ intention to elevate relations to a qualitatively new level.

Today, the political dialogue between the two countries is characterized by a high degree of dynamism. Beyond Viktor Orbаn’s visit to Uzbekistan, the official visit of President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev to Hungary in October 2022 warrants particular attention. As a result of the high-level negotiations, 16 bilateral documents were signed, covering a wide range of areas - from industrial cooperation and scientific-technical interaction to academic exchanges. The visit also included an Uzbek-Hungarian business forum, in which leading representatives of the business communities of both countries participated.

Currently, active cooperation is underway both bilaterally and in multilateral formats. Interstate interaction is underpinned by an extensive legal framework comprising over 50 bilateral documents. Key among these are agreements on the mutual protection of investments, cooperation in the fields of science, innovation, agriculture, water management, as well as interdepartmental memorandums in education, healthcare, and high technology. This scale of legal formalization demonstrates a deliberate strengthening of the institutional basis of the relationship.

Inter-parliamentary cooperation between Uzbekistan and Hungary plays a vital role in solidifying the strategic partnership between the two countries, supporting the institutional foundation for political dialogue, economic interaction, and humanitarian exchanges. This mechanism not only strengthens the basis of the strategic partnership but also serves as an important channel for the exchange of experiences, the coordination of legislative initiatives, and the development of common approaches to international challenges.

In 2020, inter-parliamentary cooperation groups were established in the Oliy Majlis of Uzbekistan and the National Assembly of Hungary. This format of interaction contributes to the growth of political trust and the sustainability of the partnership. Moreover, parliamentary diplomacy is increasingly utilized as an instrument for promoting humanitarian initiatives, supporting academic and youth exchanges, and expanding economic ties.

Fruitful cooperation has also been established between the foreign policy departments of the two countries. A prime example of this was the signing of the inter-ministerial Cooperation Program for 2024-2026 during the visit of Hungarian Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade Péter Szijjártó to Uzbekistan.

Trade and economic cooperation remains a key factor in the development of Uzbek-Hungarian relations. The volume of bilateral trade turnover has a significant potential for growth and the sides are steadily increasing their trade relations. If according to the data for 2024, trade between the countries exceeded 78 million US dollars, in January-March of this year this figure was 25.1 million dollars, demonstrating stable growth.

The Uzbek-Hungarian Intergovernmental Commission on Economic Cooperation holds particular significance in the process of establishing trade and economic ties. The ninth meeting of the commission took place in Tashkent in May 2024. As a result, a number of bilateral documents were signed, including a memorandum of understanding between the chambers of commerce and industry of both countries. Issues related to the implementation of bilateral agreements were discussed, including the creation of a Special Industrial Zone for Hungarian companies in the “Angren” Free Economic Zone. An investment agreement for the implementation of this project was signed in October 2024.

The activities of the Uzbek-Hungarian Business Council, established in 2021, and the Uzbek-Hungarian Development Fund, founded in 2022, occupy a special place in the economic dialogue. The primary objective of the latter is to finance joint investment projects. In 2023–2024, the fund supported initiatives worth over €100 million, including the establishment of manufacturing facilities, the modernization of agricultural infrastructure, and the introduction of digital solutions in resource management.

Hungary is now consistently among the most active European investors in Uzbekistan. The main areas of economic interaction are pharmaceuticals, the agro-industrial complex, the food industry, mechanical engineering, and water technologies. Currently, 17 enterprises with Hungarian capital participation are operating in Uzbekistan, including 10 joint ventures and 4 with 100% Hungarian capital.

In the context of the reform and privatization of state-owned banks in Uzbekistan, interaction in the banking sector is becoming an important area of cooperation. In December 2022, an agreement was signed between OTP Bank and the Ministry of Finance of Uzbekistan on the phased acquisition of 100% of the shares of Ipoteka-Bank.

Business forums, missions, and B2B meetings have become a regular practice. Representative Hungarian delegations, led by heads of ministries in the economic sector, have become traditional participants in the annual Tashkent International Investment Forum. Over the past two years alone, a number of major business events have been held, including a business forum in Tashkent and a road show of Uzbek companies in Budapest. These platforms facilitate the formation of sustainable contacts between business circles, the establishment of supply chains, and cooperation in the real sector of the economy.

Cultural and humanitarian cooperation remains an important area in the development of bilateral interaction. One of the most prominent symbols of the historical and cultural ties between Uzbekistan and Hungary is the Hungarian orientalist, Turkologist, and traveler Ármin Vámbéry (1832-1913). His scientific and research activities related to modern Central Asia, particularly the territory of Uzbekistan, laid a solid foundation for intercultural dialogue that continues to this day.

Currently, educational programs of the University of Debrecen are operating in Uzbekistan, and projects on academic exchanges, internships, and scientific research are being implemented. Hungarian universities, including Semmelweis University, are open to students from Uzbekistan, especially in the fields of medicine, engineering, and agriculture. Annually, the Hungarian government, through the Stipendium Hungaricum program, allocates 170 scholarships for Uzbek students wishing to continue their studies at universities in that country.

Cultural initiatives include the organization of cultural days, concerts, photo exhibitions, and presentations of national traditions. The Hungarian capital hosts a Center for Uzbek Language and Culture, which has become a platform for dialogue between the two peoples.

In 2020, the exhibition “Hungarian Dervish in Central Asia,” dedicated to the life and travels of Ármin Vámbéry, was organized in Budapest. It featured manuscripts, historical exhibits, and items from the scholar’s personal museum, collected during his travels in Uzbekistan. The exhibition was visited by more than 5,000 people, indicating a high level of interest in the history and culture of our country in Hungary.

Further evidence of this was the opening in October 2024 of a monument to the Uzbek poet Alisher Navoi in the Hungarian city of Lakitelek, created by Hungarian sculptor György Lantosh.

In January 2025, the Days of Uzbek Cinema were held for the first time in Budapest to great success, becoming a significant event in strengthening cultural ties between Uzbekistan and Hungary. The Hungarian public received modern Uzbek films with great interest, reflecting the diversity of themes and genres of national cinema.

Ties between libraries, museums, and creative unions are also actively developing. Hungary is also interested in studying and promoting the Turkic cultural heritage, which contributes to the development of joint scientific and archaeological expeditions.

In conclusion, Uzbek-Hungarian relations are on the rise, demonstrating examples of mature, balanced, and multifaceted interaction. They confirm that geography and historical differences is not an obstacle to building strong cooperation based on strategic thinking, mutual understanding, and a forward-looking approach. Given the current dynamics, it can be confidently stated that Uzbekistan and Hungary are entering a new stage of partnership, where mutual interests find realization in concrete projects and proactive solutions.

Of particular importance is cooperation within the Organization of Turkic States (OTS), where Hungary has been an observer since 2018. This participation allows Budapest to build close ties with Turkic-speaking countries and contribute to interregional integration. Cooperation within the OTS provides Uzbekistan and Hungary with unique opportunities to implement joint projects in transport, energy, digitalization, education, and ecology.

In the context of global changes and the growing role of regional alliances, Hungary is viewed by Uzbekistan as a partner capable of facilitating the deepening of ties with the European Union while simultaneously supporting the initiatives of the Turkic world.

In this regard, the upcoming official visit of the President of Uzbekistan to Hungary is intended to solidify the agreements reached and define new horizons for the partnership. Its timing, coinciding with the informal summit of the OTS, underscores the trusting nature of the dialogue and the high degree of political synchronization between the two countries.

Dunyo IA