Prime Minister Narendra Modi was conferred Uzbekistan’s highest state award, the Order of “Oliy Darajali Dustlik”, by President Shavkat Mirziyoyev during his visit to Tashkent. The honour is PM Modi’s 36th international award and was presented in recognition of his contribution to strengthening ties between India and Uzbekistan. Accepting the award, PM Modi said he was proud to receive Uzbekistan’s highest honour and dedicated it to the longstanding friendship between the two countries. He said the word “Dostlik”, which means friendship, captured the essence of India-Uzbekistan relations.