New Delhi, Aug. 3 -- India and Uzbekistan moved to significantly expand their strategic and economic footprint on Monday, with New Delhi highlighting its intent to deepen ties across key sectors, particularly critical rare earth minerals and mining, during high-level talks in the capital.

The discussions took centre stage during the official visit of Uzbek Foreign Minister Bakhtiyor Saidov, who met with External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and President Droupadi Murmu at Rashtrapati Bhavan as part of a four-day official visit spanning August 2 to 5.

Warmly welcoming the Uzbek delegation, Jaishankar emphasised India's civilizational and strategic view of Tashkent, highlighting the steady momentum in bilateral engagements.

"We in India...