AGP Executive Report

BRICS Summit in New Delhi: Leaders wrapped up the 18th BRICS summit’s final day with an open session on “Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation and Sustainability,” after adopting the New Delhi Declaration on Saturday. The bloc also reiterated concerns about attacks on civilian infrastructure and peaceful nuclear sites under IAEA safeguards, while pushing for practical steps on cross-border payments and cooperation. Uzbekistan in the spotlight: Uzbekistan is listed among BRICS partner countries attending the summit, and a separate report says Uzbekistan’s Deputy Prime Minister Jamshid Kuchkarov met with Malaysia’s Anwar Ibrahim on the sidelines, alongside other regional leaders. Uzbekistan–Korea ties: Uzbekistan’s president said the inaugural Korea–Central Asia summit should unlock a “joint leap in development” with South Korea, focusing on advanced technology, investment, and human capital. Regional infrastructure: A China–Kyrgyzstan–Uzbekistan rail update says tunneling on the Kosh-Dobo Northern Tunnel No. 2 is completed, with more tunnels and stations underway.

BRICS Summit in New Delhi: Leaders adopted the New Delhi Declaration, calling for reform of the WTO’s dispute system and pushing for a more inclusive global governance agenda, while navigating sharp Middle East tensions that left the text carefully worded. India–China reset: Xi Jinping arrived in Delhi for the summit and met PM Modi, with both sides stressing long-term, strategic ties after years of strain. Uzbekistan in the spotlight: Uzbekistan’s sanitary and epidemiological cooperation with Tajikistan moves forward at the Oybek–Fotekhobod border crossing, aiming to tighten cross-border disease prevention and information sharing. Diplomacy & appointments: Saida Mirziyoyeva was appointed head of the Tashkent International Financial Center administration, with parliament also approving lifelong immunity and social guarantees for staff. Sports (Samarkand): The 46th Chess Olympiad is set to run in Samarkand, with teams from the Virgin Islands and Guyana among those traveling to Uzbekistan. Health in Uzbekistan: A Chinese medical team is in Samarkand for “Journey to Sight,” delivering free cataract surgeries and training local doctors.

BRICS Summit in New Delhi: India hosts the 18th BRICS Leaders’ Summit on Sept 12–13 at Bharat Mandapam, with leaders including Xi Jinping, Vladimir Putin, Iran’s Masoud Pezeshkian and others arriving amid the Iran–US and Russia–Ukraine wars. Modi’s bilateral diplomacy: PM Narendra Modi held talks with Abu Dhabi Crown Prince Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan on strengthening India-UAE trade and energy ties, and met Ethiopia’s Abiy Ahmed Ali ahead of the summit to discuss cooperation and intra-BRICS priorities. China–India reset watch: China says the Modi–Xi meeting will build on strategic guidance and “properly handle differences,” as Xi travels to India for the first time in nearly seven years. Uzbekistan–Serbia deal: In Belgrade, Uzbekistan’s Mirziyoyev and Serbia’s Vucic signed agreements on transport, renewable energy, agriculture, digitalization and labor mobility, with talks on a possible free trade agreement and a direct air route between Tashkent and Belgrade. Uzbekistan in the spotlight: Uzbekistan is also set to host an inaugural Central Asian Student Sport Forum, as regional sports cooperation expands.

Armenia–Uzbekistan Talks: President Shavkat Mirziyoyev and Armenia PM Nikol Pashinyan discussed expanding trade and industrial cooperation and efforts to unblock regional communications, with Mirziyoyev urging stronger connectivity via transport corridors linking Central Asia and the South Caucasus. BRICS Push: As the 18th BRICS Summit opens in New Delhi, leaders and business forums spotlight local-currency trade and cross-border payments; Russia pitched an NDB-backed investment platform for BRICS projects. Transport & Payments: Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan plan cross-border QR-code payments, enabling mutual use of national QR systems. Aviation Upgrade: Embraer unveiled the first C-390 Millennium for Uzbekistan’s Air Force, making Uzbekistan the first Central Asian customer. Public Safety: Two workers died in a tyre explosion at a Navoi Mining and Metallurgical Company site; Uzbekistan also plans expanded security services for tourists, including bodyguard-style protection. Economy & Finance: Uzbekistan ranks second in Central Asia for outstanding IMF loans (about $101m) and its international reserves reportedly topped $72bn. Energy & Culture: Central Asia marked 20 years of its nuclear-weapon-free zone with renewed disarmament calls, while Uzbekistan artists featured in a Malaysia cultural diplomacy concert.

BRICS Spotlight: Uzbekistan is in the orbit of a major global summit as BRICS leaders descend on New Delhi for a Sept. 12–13 meeting, with Putin already in India and Xi set to arrive—talks expected to weigh wars, oil, and trade. Energy & Industry: Uzbekistan is accelerating waste-to-energy projects with Chinese partners, targeting 3.6 million tons of municipal waste processed annually and 1.6 billion kWh of power once plants come online in 2026–2027. Regional Connectivity: South Korea is hosting the first Korea–Central Asia Summit next week, with Uzbekistan among five leaders expected to push cooperation on critical minerals, energy, supply chains, and customs and security coordination. Local Diplomacy: Seoul and Uzbekistan are also expanding ties beyond capitals via an interregional forum linking Korean firms with Uzbek regions for investment and jobs. Sports (Uzbek Angle): Uzbekistan is a chess Olympiad favourite in Samarkand, while Uzbekistan’s beach soccer opponents in the AFC Asian Cup include Oman and the UAE in Group C. Domestic Policy: Uzbekistan has adopted a law limiting excessive night noise, with restrictions from 11 p.m.–7 a.m. on working days and 10 p.m.–9 a.m. on weekends/holidays.

BRICS Summit Prep in Delhi: India is tightening security and traffic protocols as world leaders including Xi Jinping, Vladimir Putin and Masoud Pezeshkian head to the Sept 12–13 BRICS summit at Bharat Mandapam, with an international media centre expected to host 1,200–1,300 journalists. Uzbek Alphabet Update: Uzbekistan’s Senate approved changes to the Uzbek Latin alphabet—28 letters plus an apostrophe—and plans to start translating school textbooks in 2027, finishing the transition by 2031. Uzbekistan in Regional Deals: Algeria and Uzbekistan agreed to set up a joint business council and discuss a preferential trade framework. Tourism Links: Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan expanded joint tourism, including medical and pilgrimage travel cooperation. Uzbekistan Tech & Finance: Uzbekistan is testing a stablecoin for everyday payments, and Saida Mirziyoyeva was appointed manager of the Tashkent International Financial Center to attract long-term investment. Sports—Chess in Samarkand: Bangladesh will send a People with Disabilities team to the FIDE Chess Olympiad starting tomorrow in Samarkand, Uzbekistan.

BRICS in the spotlight: India is set to host the 18th BRICS Leaders’ Summit in New Delhi on Sept. 12-13, with New Delhi beefing up security and traffic diversions around Bharat Mandapam as about 25,000 personnel prepare for the high-profile gathering. Uzbekistan in BRICS orbit: Uzbekistan is listed among BRICS partner countries, and the summit’s agenda centers on resilience, innovation, cooperation and sustainability amid geopolitical strain. Diplomacy in Belgrade: Serbia’s foreign minister Marko Đurić met Uzbekistan’s Bakhtiyor Saidov in Belgrade, highlighting momentum for the strategic partnership and steps toward opening Serbia’s embassy in Tashkent. Education ties: Korean-language education is expanding in Uzbekistan, with a new Bukhara hub adding a Korean department and a teacher training center to boost regional instructor capacity. Tourism surge: Uzbekistan welcomed 9.1 million foreign tourists in the first eight months of 2026, up 21.1%, with tourism services exports reaching $4.6 billion. Defense update: Uzbekistan has received China-built J-10CE fighter jets, marking a major upgrade for its air force.

Uzbekistan–Serbia Trade: Uzbekistan and Serbia have started drafting a zero-tariff free trade deal, aiming to finalize and sign it soon; the plan would apply zero-rate tariffs across goods on a reciprocal basis, with an added industrial cooperation program spanning light industry, agriculture, pharma, geology and IT. Diplomacy & Regional Ties: Serbia’s FM Marko Djuric met Uzbekistan’s Bakhtiyor Saidov in Belgrade, with both sides stressing momentum toward opening Serbia’s embassy in Uzbekistan and boosting political dialogue and business links. Energy Update: BP and Socar received the green light to move ahead with the next phase of their Uzbekistan drilling push on the Ustyurt Plateau after completing the first phase of seismic work. Security & Safety: Uzbekistan’s Cybersecurity Center warns of a Telegram-based scam using fake “best parent” style online voting pages to steal verification codes and then take over victims’ accounts. Culture & City Life: Tashkent opened its first permanent Centre for Contemporary Arts, repurposing a 1912 tram depot into a new hub for exhibitions, performances and education. Sports (Uzbekistan in focus): South Korea’s interim coach Robert Moreno is set to arrive in Korea Sunday, with Uzbekistan listed among the home friendlies in the upcoming international window.

Uzbekistan–Serbia Deal: Uzbekistan and Serbia signed an agreement on mobility and labor migration during President Shavkat Mirziyoyev’s visit to Belgrade, with both sides also discussing transport, logistics, agriculture, light industry, pharmaceuticals, and a planned Uzbek national pavilion at Serbia’s EXPO. Strategic Partnership: Serbia and Uzbekistan also agreed on a broader strategic partnership covering transport, renewable energy, digitalization, and labor mobility, including steps toward a possible free trade agreement and a direct air route. Nuclear-Weapon-Free Zone: Central Asia’s foreign ministers marked the 20th anniversary of the Semipalatinsk Treaty, urging renewed progress on disarmament and stronger verification mechanisms. Tashkent Tourism Boost: Uzbekistan welcomed 9.1 million foreign tourists in the first eight months of 2026, up 21.1%, with tourism exports reaching $4.6 billion. Namangan Tech Push: Namangan governor Shavkat Abdurazakov said Chinese technology is accelerating industrial transformation, citing 70+ joint projects and upgrades in agriculture, textiles, and solar power. Regional Security Alert: South Korea plans higher terror alert levels ahead of the First Korea–Central Asia Summit next week, with Uzbekistan among participating countries. Sports Calendar: Uzbekistan-linked sports news includes the start of Kyrgyzstan’s Issyk-Kul Games (Sept. 12 finish) and Uzbekistan’s role in South Korea’s upcoming football friendlies.

Uzbekistan–Serbia Strategic Push: Presidents Shavkat Mirziyoyev and Aleksandar Vucic signed a joint statement establishing a strategic partnership in Belgrade, alongside the exchange of 20 cooperation documents spanning digitalisation, customs, renewable energy, transport, culture, agriculture and a planned working group toward a Free Trade Agreement. Central Asia Connectivity & Trade: Uzbekistan and Armenia held foreign-ministry consultations in Yerevan, focusing on expanding cooperation in industry, transport and logistics, agriculture, digital tech, tourism and education, with progress noted on restoring direct air links and boosting connectivity. Energy Supply Watch: Gazprom said it increased combined gas supplies to Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan by nearly 70% in 2026, underscoring the region’s growing energy demand. Regional Security & Diplomacy: Central Asian states marked the 20th anniversary of the Semipalatinsk Treaty by reaffirming commitment to a nuclear-weapon-free world and urging renewed progress on disarmament. Sports Spotlight (Samarkand): Uzbekistan is preparing to host the 46th Chess Olympiad in Samarkand (Sept 15–27), expecting a record 398 teams.

Islamic Cultural Heritage Conference: Qatar’s foreign ministry chief Ahmed bin Hassan Al Hammadi led a delegation to a Tashkent conference on Islamic cultural heritage, aiming to boost Oriental studies and dialogue between civilizations. Customs Modernization: Uzbekistan says it has simplified customs for most shipments ahead of WTO accession, with 94% of exports and 87% of imports cleared under simplified procedures and declaration processing cut to about 20 minutes. Tashkent School Safety: A third grader in Tashkent was bullied into swallowing a magnetic bracelet, leading to a three-hour surgery after doctors found intestinal damage. Sports—Asian Games Focus: India’s women’s hockey team departed for Japan targeting gold and a direct LA 2028 berth; they open against Uzbekistan on Sept 20. Regional Trade Links: Azerbaijan says trade with Uzbekistan has tripled in five years and joint projects now top $5 billion. Water Data Push (Kazakhstan): Kazakhstan reports digitizing 23,000+ water bodies under a national information system to strengthen water security.

Diplomacy in Focus: President Shavkat Mirziyoyev arrived in Serbia for an official two-day visit, greeted by Aleksandar Vucic with red carpet, guard of honor, and “bread and salt,” with talks set to include a strategic partnership joint statement and a business forum. Energy & Industry: Uzbekistan is pushing ahead on nuclear plans, proposing a joint engineering venture to give independent technical oversight of its first plant in Jizzakh, while also expanding solar: 2,508 MW of PV added under the Solar House net metering scheme since 2023, with 700 MW expected to come online in 2026. Trade & Finance: Uzbekistan-Qatar ties are strengthening, with trade up over 30% in 2025, and the IMF is working with Uzbekistan on measures to improve fiscal stability and public financial management. Digital Money: Uzbekistan’s central bank says it sees no value in a retail CBDC, pointing instead to stablecoins and existing fast payment systems. Sports & Culture: A restored Centre for Contemporary Arts in Tashkent opened after a presidential tour, and Uzbekistan’s sports links abroad include Asian Games 2026 coverage in Aichi-Nagoya and regional hockey matchups featuring Uzbekistan.

AFC U20 Asian Cup Qualification: India beat Bangladesh 3-0 in Tashkent, ending a 20-year wait and keeping its hopes alive as Group B results fell into place; the Blue Colts’ fate hinged on Syria vs Uzbekistan, with Uzbekistan’s win over Syria ultimately clearing the path. Uzbekistan-Qatar Culture & Cooperation: Qatar Museums chair Sheikha Al Mayassa attended the inauguration of Uzbekistan’s first permanent contemporary arts centre in Tashkent, as Qatar and Uzbekistan launch a five-year collaboration under the Years of Culture push. Energy & Trade Links: Gazprom says it boosted gas exports to Central Asia by 70% this year, including higher supplies to Uzbekistan, while a China-Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan railway project marked a major tunnel milestone that aims to cut transit times by up to eight days. Economy Watch: Uzbekistan’s annual inflation eased to 6.2% in August, with food and transport driving most of the monthly price rise. Sports & Culture Beyond Football: Uzbekistan’s presence at the World Nomad Games medal table was noted, and the World Chess Olympiad in Samarkand continues to draw international attention.

AFC U20 Asian Cup Qualification: India booked a long-awaited spot in the 2027 finals in China after a 3-0 win over Bangladesh in Tashkent, with goals from Danny Meitei Laishram, Vishal Yadav and Md Arbash; their final place depends on the Syria–Uzbekistan result, while Uzbekistan’s own 3-0 win over Syria kept the group picture tight. Uzbek–Qatar Culture: Qatar Museums chair Sheikha Al Mayassa attended the inauguration of Tashkent’s Centre for Contemporary Arts, the country’s first permanent contemporary art hub, opening to the public on Sept 6. Digital Payments Talk: BJP MP Raghav Chadha used Uzbekistan’s IPU youth conference to push the idea of “digital access & rights,” highlighting India–Uzbekistan UPI–UZQR interoperability for easier payments for travellers and students. Aviation Disruptions: Russian airports reportedly suspended operations nearly 1,000 times in August amid security concerns, while Uzbekistan Airways said some Moscow-bound routes were adjusted for airspace restrictions. Regional Security Cooperation: China’s public security chief met Lao and Uzbekistan officials in Beijing, focusing on anti-fraud, anti-gambling and border security. Sports & Heritage: Uzbekistan’s ties to Central Asia’s nomadic culture continued to feature in World Nomad Games coverage, including kokpar/kok-boru results and prize details.

Startup Push: Uzbekistan will launch the “Future Entrepreneur” program (2027-2030), with IT Park Uzbekistan support and UzVC funding for up to 30 startups in priority sectors, offering up to 5 billion soums per project via interest-free convertible loans/SAFE and a state stake capped at 49%. Culture Access: Museum Week runs Sept 2-8 with free entry for Uzbekistan residents to 114 state museums (not for foreign tourists). Cross-Border Trade: A Tashkent-born logistics specialist in China’s Xinjiang says rail-linked trade is opening steady opportunities for Central Asia-bound goods. Regional Connectivity: The China-Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan railway hits a milestone as the first tunnel on the Kyrgyz section is drilled through, with dozens of tunnels, bridges and stations in progress. Travel Payments: UPI is now available in Uzbekistan for Indians via NPCI International and local partners, including UZQR-based payments. Sports & Culture Abroad: Uzbekistan’s presence shows up at the World Nomad Games and in regional events, while a mobile clinic treated 150+ visitors during the games.

Human Rights at Home and Abroad: Uzbekistan’s Senate delegates at the 12th World Conference of Young Parliamentarians in Samarkand backed the non-selective application of international human rights and humanitarian law. Regional Connectivity: Work is advancing on the China–Kyrgyzstan–Uzbekistan railway, with the first Kyrgyz tunnel drilled through and construction of the tallest bridge in Suzak (956.67m) underway. Finance & Tech: A fintech-focused state-led push is taking shape as Uzbekistan’s central bank sets rules for the market, runs an innovation hub, and backs investment via a venture fund. Travel & Payments: Uzbekistan is opening up for Indian visitors and shoppers, with UPI acceptance and visa-free entry measures making trips easier. Diplomacy & Justice: Uzbekistan-linked judicial cooperation themes surfaced at BRICS events, including calls for faster, more predictable justice and cross-border arbitration and mediation. Sports Spotlight: Uzbekistan’s Kamilla Rakhimova featured in the US Open spotlight as Aryna Sabalenka advanced after a match disruption.