Lok Sabha Speaker Birla, Uzbekistan FM Saidov meet to strengthen parliamentary ties
Synopsis
Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla and Uzbekistan Foreign Minister Bakhtiyor Saidov met in New Delhi to push parliamentary diplomacy beyond ceremony — with a newly formed India-Uzbekistan Parliamentary Friendship Group now providing an institutional backbone. Saidov's visit, which also covered talks with the President and EAM Jaishankar, signals a deliberate Central Asia pivot in India's legislative and diplomatic outreach.
Key Takeaways
Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla met Uzbekistan FM Bakhtiyor Saidov at Parliament House, New Delhi on 4 August .
Talks covered parliamentary cooperation, trade, investment, connectivity, education, culture , and people-to-people exchanges .
India formed the India-Uzbekistan Parliamentary Friendship Group in March , with members from both Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha .
Birla recalled his April 2025 visit to Tashkent for the 150th IPU Assembly , where he met President Mirziyoyev .
Saidov also met President Droupadi Murmu , EAM S.
Jaishankar , and attended the Uzbekistan-India Business Forum during his visit.
Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla on Tuesday, 4 August held talks with visiting Uzbekistan Foreign Minister Bakhtiyor Saidov at Parliament House, New Delhi, focusing on deepening inter-parliamentary dialogue, boosting friendship group activities, and sharing legislative expertise between the two nations.
Key Discussions
The two leaders covered a broad agenda spanning parliamentary cooperation, trade, investment, connectivity, education, culture, and people-to-people exchanges. Birla highlighted the recently formed India-Uzbekistan Parliamentary Friendship Group, established by the Parliament of India in March, which draws members from both the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha.
The Group, Birla noted, is intended to serve as a structured platform for advancing cooperation in economic development, education, culture, and humanitarian initiatives — signalling an institutional rather than ad hoc approach to bilateral engagement.
What Both Sides Said
Saidov, in a post on X, described the meeting as 'warm and substantive' and underlined 'the important role of parliamentary diplomacy in further strengthening the strategic partnership between Uzbekistan and India.' He noted that Birla 'warmly recalled his visit to Uzbekistan last year and once again expressed his sincere appreciation for the warm reception and traditional hospitality extended during the 150th Anniversary Assembly of the Inter-Parliamentary Union.'
Birla, also posting on X, called it 'a productive discussion on further strengthening the longstanding friendship between India and Uzbekistan.' He recalled his visit to Tashkent for the 150th Assembly of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) in April 2025, where he met Uzbekistan President Shavkat Mirziyoyev, Senate Chairperson Tanzila Narbayeva, and Legislative Chamber Speaker Nuriddin Ismoilov. 'Those interactions further reinforced our shared commitment to deepening bilateral and parliamentary engagement,' he added.
Context of Saidov's Visit
Saidov arrived in New Delhi on Monday for an official visit to India. Beyond the meeting with Birla, he called on President Droupadi Murmu, held talks with External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar, and participated in the Uzbekistan-India Business Forum — a visit that combined diplomatic, legislative, and commercial tracks.
Why It Matters
This comes amid a broader Indian diplomatic push to deepen engagement with Central Asian nations. The creation of a dedicated parliamentary friendship group and the exchange of high-level visits suggest both sides are moving beyond ceremonial diplomacy toward institutionalised cooperation. The IPU meeting in Tashkent last year appears to have served as a catalyst, with both delegations now working to convert that goodwill into tangible frameworks. The next steps are likely to involve formal exchanges between the friendship group's members and Uzbekistan's legislative chambers.
Point of View
But they create durable people-to-people and legislative links that outlast ministerial tenures. What stands out in Saidov's New Delhi visit is the multi-track nature: President, EAM, Speaker, and a business forum in a single trip. That density of engagement suggests Uzbekistan is treating India as a priority partner, not just a courtesy call. India's Central Asia outreach has historically been constrained by connectivity gaps; the emphasis on 'connectivity' in Birla's own framing hints that both sides see infrastructure as the missing piece in an otherwise warm relationship.
NationPress
4 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did Uzbekistan's Foreign Minister visit India in August 2025?
Uzbekistan Foreign Minister Bakhtiyor Saidov visited New Delhi on an official trip that included meetings with President Droupadi Murmu, External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar, Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla, and participation in the Uzbekistan-India Business Forum. The visit aimed to strengthen the strategic partnership across diplomatic, legislative, and commercial tracks.
What is the India-Uzbekistan Parliamentary Friendship Group?
It is a parliamentary body formed by the Parliament of India in March 2025, comprising members from both the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha. The Group is designed to advance bilateral cooperation in economic development, education, culture, and humanitarian initiatives between India and Uzbekistan.
What did Om Birla and Bakhtiyor Saidov discuss?
The two leaders discussed deepening inter-parliamentary dialogue, enhancing friendship group activities, sharing lawmaking experience, and expanding cooperation in trade, investment, connectivity, education, culture, and people-to-people exchanges.
What was the significance of the 150th IPU Assembly in Tashkent?
The 150th Anniversary Assembly of the Inter-Parliamentary Union, held in Tashkent in April 2025, was where Speaker Om Birla met Uzbekistan President Shavkat Mirziyoyev, Senate Chairperson Tanzila Narbayeva, and Legislative Chamber Speaker Nuriddin Ismoilov. Birla cited those interactions as having reinforced the shared commitment to deeper bilateral and parliamentary engagement.
How does this meeting fit into India-Uzbekistan relations?
The meeting reflects a broader push by both countries to institutionalise their relationship beyond high-level visits. The formation of a dedicated parliamentary friendship group and the multi-track nature of Saidov's visit — covering the President, EAM, Speaker, and a business forum — indicate a deliberate effort to deepen the India-Uzbekistan strategic partnership.
