'India holds special place in heart of Uzbek people'

Uzbekistan President Shavkat Mirziyoyev, while addressing the media at Rashtrapati Bhavan after being accorded guard of honour, said that India has a special place in the heart of each Uzbek.

President Mirziyoyev, who is accompanied by his wife, Ziroatkhon Hoshimova on his maiden visit to India, was received by his Indian counterpart President Ram Nath Kovind, First Lady Savita Kovind and Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

After being accorded a guard of honour and meeting with other dignitaries, the Uzbek President underlined the warm and cordial ties between the two nations.

"I thank everyone for your hospitality and thank India for inviting me. India has a special place in the heart of each Uzbek. Our nation is linked with historical ties and close spiritual and cultural ties. At the moment, India is a rapidly developing nation, and it is one of the leading economies in the world. It is also the biggest democracy in the world. India is confidently strengthening its role as a global power," President Mirziyoyev said.

He added that India is leading in spheres of innovations of high technology, industry, and service amongst others. President Mirziyoyev further said that his visit and productive negotiations would allow the strategic partnership between the two countries to surge to the highest level.

On Sunday, the Uzbek President and his wife visited the iconic Taj Mahal in Agra, to kick-start his two-day India visit.

President Mirziyoyev's two-day tour includes a scheduled bilateral talk with Prime Minister Modi at the Hyderabad House, along with a number of other significant engagements. He will also visit Raj Ghat to pay homage to Mahatma Gandhi.

The Uzbek President is slated to meet President Kovind, Vice President M. Venkaiah Naidu and External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj. He will also attend a presidential banquet during his visit.