Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev has invited Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko to pay an official visit to Uzbekistan following high-level talks in Minsk focused on expanding trade, investment and industrial cooperation.

The two leaders held meetings in both narrow and expanded formats with their official delegations, The Caspian Post reports via the Uzbek presidential press service.

During the talks, President Mirziyoyev said relations between Uzbekistan and Belarus have reached a new level of strategic partnership, highlighting the extensive preparations for the visit, including meetings of the Intergovernmental Commission, the Business Council, political consultations, expert forums and Uzbekistan's cultural events in Belarus.

The presidents welcomed the rapid growth in bilateral trade, which has nearly tripled over the past five years to almost $1 billion in 2025. Trade has increased by a further 30% since the beginning of 2026, while around 360 joint ventures are now operating in the two countries.

Both sides endorsed a roadmap aimed at increasing bilateral trade to $2 billion and launching new joint projects in agriculture, mechanical engineering, pharmaceuticals, electrical equipment, light industry, furniture manufacturing and other sectors.

The leaders also discussed cooperation in the peaceful use of nuclear energy and the development of related infrastructure, while praising the results of the Third Uzbekistan-Belarus Forum of Regions, which concluded with the signing of multiple trade and investment agreements.

Mirziyoyev and Lukashenko reaffirmed their commitment to supporting each other within international organizations, including the United Nations, the CIS, the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) and the Non-Aligned Movement, while pledging to strengthen cultural, educational and humanitarian cooperation.

President Mirziyoyev also thanked Lukashenko for initiating the creation of an Uzbek-Belarusian Friendship Alley in Minsk. The two countries plan to hold joint tourism, medical and education forums later this year.

The talks concluded with President Mirziyoyev extending an official invitation for President Lukashenko to visit Uzbekistan.