Tashkent: Prime Minister Narendra Modi was on Sunday conferred the ‘Order of Oliy Darajali Do‘stlik’, Uzbekistan’s highest state honour. He was given the honour by the country’s President Shavkat Mirziyoyev, recognising the enduring ties between India and Uzbekistan. PM Modi is on two-day visit to the central Asian country. After receiving the honour, PM Modi dedicated it to the enduring bond between India and Uzbekistan.
He was given the honour at Tashkent as the two leaders held delegation-level talks to expand cooperation between India and Uzbekistan across several key areas.
“I accept this highest honour with utmost humility and dedicate this to the age old friendship between the two countries and their legacies,” PM Modi said, while addressing the gathering. He also said that the award comes with a great responsibility and assured that India will maintain its friendship and fulfill its responsibility towards Uzbekistan. He also said that both the countries will work towards Global South and for betterment of humanity.
Last year, Uzbekistan conferred the same award on Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, the President of Kazakhstan. Other notable leaders to have received the award are Turkmenistan President Serdar Berdimuhamedov, the chairman of the People’s Council of Turkmenistan Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedow, and United Nations secretary general António Guterres.