Uzbek President’s Visit to Switzerland: What Has Been Achieved?

On 21st of January, President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev arrived in Switzerland on a working visit to take part in the signing of the Charter of the Peace Council, a new international initiative aimed at supporting peace and conflict resolution. The visit demonstrated Uzbekistan’s growing engagement in global diplomatic efforts and its intention to contribute more actively to international initiatives.

Upon arrival at Zurich International Airport, President Mirziyoyev was welcomed by Dorit Probst, Head of the United Chamber of Commerce and Industry. The official reception marked the start of the Uzbek leader’s program in Switzerland, which included participation in high-level international events and a series of bilateral meetings on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum in Davos.

The visit to Switzerland followed an earlier important diplomatic development. Uzbekistan had received and accepted an official invitation from the United States President Donald Trump to join a new international initiative focused on promoting peace and resolving conflicts in the Middle East. The invitation was addressed directly to President Mirziyoyev and proposed Uzbekistan’s participation as a founding and permanent member of the newly established Peace Council.

According to the press secretary of the President of Uzbekistan, the initiative is based on a comprehensive plan to end the conflict in the Gaza Strip. The plan was announced on September 29, 2025, supported by several global leaders, and later endorsed by United Nations Security Council Resolution 2803, as part of Trump’s Gaza peace plan, adopted on November 17, 2025. The Peace Council is designed as an international body that would initially focus on Gaza, while gradually expanding its mandate to address other conflicts in different regions.

In the official letter from the White House, the initiative was described as an effort to unite countries willing to take responsibility for fostering long-term peace, stability, and security in the Middle East. In his response, President Mirziyoyev confirmed Uzbekistan’s readiness to join the Peace Council as a founding member. He described the initiative as an important step toward resolving long-standing conflicts and strengthening regional and global stability.

On January 22, President Mirziyoyev took part in the signing ceremony of the Charter of the Peace Council in Davos. The event was chaired by U.S. President Donald Trump and attended by heads of state, prime ministers, and foreign ministers from a wide range of countries, including Azerbaijan, Armenia, Argentina, Bahrain, Bulgaria, Hungary, Indonesia, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Qatar, Morocco, Mongolia, Paraguay, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and others. By signing the Charter, Uzbekistan formally became one of the founding members of the Council.

Participation in the Peace Council reflects Uzbekistan’s foreign policy priorities, which emphasize multilateral cooperation, peaceful conflict resolution, and active engagement in international affairs. Moreover, the President of Uzbekistan advocated for the right of the Palestinian people to establish their independent state and call for a peaceful solution for the conflict in Gaza on several international summits, and also showed practical support by evacuating 100 injured Palestinian women and children in 2024. By joining the Council, Uzbekistan expressed its commitment to making a contribution to its work in close cooperation with other founding states and international partners.

On the sidelines of the signing ceremony, President Mirziyoyev held a conversation with President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev and Prime Minister of Hungary Viktor Orbán. In a friendly atmosphere, the leaders discussed prospects for expanding mutually beneficial cooperation. Particular attention was given to opportunities for multilateral collaboration, including within the framework of the Organization of Turkic States.

The Swiss visit also included meetings focused on economic cooperation. President Mirziyoyev met with Odile Renaud-Basso, President of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD). The sides discussed practical aspects of further deepening their strategic partnership. Uzbekistan remains the EBRD’s largest partner in the region, with total investments reaching nearly $7 billion. In 2025, the volume of EBRD operations in the country exceeded $1 billion, including projects supporting private sector development.

President Mirziyoyev also met with Adebayo Ogunlesi, Senior Managing Director and member of the Board of Directors of BlackRock. The discussions focused on key areas of investment cooperation and the implementation of previously reached agreements. The prospects for BlackRock’s participation in priority projects in Uzbekistan were reviewed, including initiatives to acquire equity stakes in Uzbek enterprises, develop joint investment mechanisms, and attract international expertise to further improve the country’s investment climate.