Uzbekistan, Canada Boost Ties and Plan Embassy Openings

A high-level delegation from Uzbekistan, led by First Deputy Chairman of the Senate Sodiq Safoyev, has paid an official visit to Canada, holding a series of meetings in Ottawa and Toronto.

The visit comes as political dialogue and cooperation between the two countries continue deepening, The Caspian Post reports via Uzbek media.

As part of the program, Canada’s Parliament hosted “Uzbekistan Days” along with a presentation of the book “New Uzbekistan: The Path of Shavkat Mirziyoyev.” The event brought together more than 80 participants, including lawmakers, government officials, business leaders, experts, and media representatives. Canadian politicians praised Uzbekistan’s ongoing reforms, noting their scale and long-term impact.

During the talks, both sides discussed accelerating the opening of embassies in each other’s capitals. Canada also supported the proposal to hold the first “Uzbekistan-Canada” parliamentary forum in Samarkand in 2026. Senators additionally suggested organizing a “Canada Day” event in Uzbekistan.

The delegation met with Speaker of the Senate Raymonde Gagné and Speaker of the House of Commons Francis Scarpaleggia. Gagné expressed full support for opening an Uzbek embassy in Ottawa, while Scarpaleggia highlighted the rapid growth in interparliamentary exchanges and noted that Canadian business participation in the upcoming Samarkand forum will be strategically important.

Talks with the Canada-Uzbekistan Friendship Group, led by Ziad Aboultaif, focused on expanding economic cooperation, migration opportunities, and cultural exchanges. The contribution of Canada’s Uzbek diaspora - now over 60,000 people - was also emphasized.

Canadian officials underscored the country’s strong need for medical professionals, with ongoing discussions taking place with the provinces of Alberta and Ontario.

Canadian senators also praised Uzbekistan’s reforms in public safety, urban development, and religious tolerance, noting that the country’s growing investment openness is creating new opportunities for Canadian businesses.