Agreements for investments worth over 3 billion were signed on Thursday when Premier Giorgia Meloni met Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev in Samarkand.

The two leaders signed a joint declaration which, among other things, referred to strategic dialogue and the creation of ja oint economic commission.

Both leaders said it was a “historic” day for relations between the two countries.

“Uzbekistan is a very, very important partner,” Meloni said during a part of the meeting that was open to the press.

“Our relations are solid, they have been excellent for a long time.

“In 2023 we tried to take them to another level, with a strategic partnership, and now we are attempting to strengthen the partnership even more”.

Later on Thursday Meloni will head for Kazakhstan to take part in the Astana International Forum.

She will also meet Kazakh President Qasym-Jomart Kemeluly Toqaev and a ceremony for the signing of agreements is scheduled.

Meloni is set to have bilateral meetings with the presidents of Turkmenistan, Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan in Astana too.