Modi gets Uzbekistan's top foreign honour, dedicates it to India-Uzbekistan bond

Tashkent,UPDATED: Aug 30, 2026 16:42 IST

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday was conferred with Uzbekistan's highest honour for foreign leaders, the 'Oliy Darajali Do'stlik' Order, and dedicated it to the "enduring" bond between India and Uzbekistan. The award was presented to him by Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev during Modi's two-day visit to the country.

Modi is in Uzbekistan to strengthen cooperation in areas including trade, clean energy and connectivity. Earlier in the day, he held talks with Mirziyoyev, after which India and Uzbekistan decided to elevate their ties to a comprehensive strategic partnership.

In a social media post, Modi said, "Honoured to receive the 'Oliy Darajali Do'stlik' Order. I dedicate this to the enduring bond between India and Uzbekistan." The Ministry of External Affairs said on X that the prime minister was given the honour for his "contribution in strengthening the friendship between the two countries". It added, "PM dedicated the accolade to the 1.4 billion people of India and highlighted that it is a symbol of the enduring friendship between the two civilisations."

In his remarks, Modi said receiving the award was a matter of great pride for him. He said people in India are very familiar with the word used for the award, 'Dostlik'. "There is hardly a family in India where the word 'Dostlik' is not spoken a hundred times a day. Today, you have truly brought out the essence of it. 'Dostlik' means friendship. The word itself beautifully expresses the sentiment at the heart of the relationship between India and Uzbekistan," he said.

Modi said the award was not a personal honour but an honour for 1.4 billion Indians. "On behalf of all Indians, I sincerely thank the people of Uzbekistan, the government, and my dear friend, the President. I accept this highest honour with utmost humility and dedicate it to the centuries-old friendship between our two countries and our shared heritage," he said.

After concluding his engagements in Tashkent, Modi is scheduled to travel to Kyrgyzstan to take part in the 26th Shanghai Cooperation Organisation summit on August 31 and September 1. The visit to Uzbekistan saw the two countries upgrade ties and the prime minister receive the country's top honour for foreign leaders.

With PTI Inputs

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