Former Uzbek foreign minister and ex-secretary general of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation, Vladimir Norov, has become the first citizen of Uzbekistan to be honoured with China’s prestigious Friendship Award.
The ceremony took place on September 30 at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing. The Friendship Award is regarded as the country’s highest state accolade for foreign experts who have made significant contributions to national development and international cooperation. This year, 50 specialists from 27 countries were recognised.
«It is a great honour for me to be among the recipients, and I am especially proud that for the first time in history a representative of Uzbekistan has received this distinguished award. Throughout my career, whether in diplomacy or academia, I have remained committed to strengthening mutual trust, dialogue and cooperation between China, Central Asia and the wider international community,» Norov said.
He also expressed gratitude to the Chinese government, the Shanghai University of International Studies and his colleagues. According to Norov, the award represents not only personal recognition but also a shared belief in the power of cultural and human connections.
