Modi gets Uzbekistan's top honour, dedicates it to enduring ties

Tashkent,UPDATED: Aug 30, 2026 15:18 IST

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday was conferred with Uzbekistan's prestigious 'Oliy Darajali Do'stlik' Order and dedicated it to the "enduring" bond between India and Uzbekistan. Modi is in Uzbekistan on a two-day visit aimed at strengthening ties in areas such as trade, clean energy and connectivity.

During the visit, Modi held talks with Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev, after which the two countries decided to elevate their relationship to a comprehensive strategic partnership. The prime minister is scheduled to travel from Tashkent to Kyrgyzstan to take part in the 26th Shanghai Cooperation Organisation summit from August 31 to September 1.

The honour was conferred on Modi by President Mirziyoyev. 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."

In his remarks, Modi said, "Being honoured with Uzbekistan's highest award is a matter of great pride for me." He added that 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 one 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.

The visit saw India and Uzbekistan upgrade their ties to a comprehensive strategic partnership, while Modi also received the country's highest honour and dedicated it to the long-standing friendship between the two nations before leaving for the SCO summit in Kyrgyzstan.

With PTI Inputs

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