On the Inaugural Meeting of the Peace Council in Washington

At the invitation of the President of the United States Donald Trump, President of the Republic of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev paid a working visit to Washington on February 17–19 to participate in the inaugural meeting of the Peace Council. The visit combined a substantive political agenda with an extensive economic program and resulted in a number of agreements aimed at further strengthening Uzbek-American strategic partnership and expanding bilateral cooperation across key sectors.

Expanding Participation in Addressing Global Challenges

The Peace Council is an intergovernmental initiative put forward by President Trump within the framework of the Gaza peace plan endorsed by the UN Security Council in November 2025. The establishment of this platform is intended not only to coordinate humanitarian assistance but also to create institutional mechanisms for long-term stabilization, reconstruction, and socio-economic recovery of the Gaza Strip, while reducing the risks of renewed escalation in the Middle East.

The Charter of the Peace Council was signed on January 22, 2026, on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum in Davos. Signatories included leaders and representatives of Azerbaijan, Argentina, Armenia, Bahrain, Bulgaria, Hungary, Indonesia, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Qatar, Morocco, Mongolia, the United Arab Emirates, Pakistan, Paraguay, Saudi Arabia, Türkiye, Uzbekistan, and Kosovo. Subsequently, Belarus, Albania, Cambodia, Egypt, El Salvador, Jordan, and Kuwait officially joined the group of founding states, expanding the Council’s geographic and political representation.

By joining the founding members at the invitation of the U.S. President, Uzbekistan reaffirmed its commitment to peaceful diplomacy, respect for international law, and shared responsibility for maintaining global stability. Uzbekistan recognized Palestine in 1994 and consistently supports the right of the Palestinian people to establish an independent state in accordance with international legal norms and UN resolutions.

Uzbekistan’s policy toward Gaza combines principled political positioning with practical humanitarian engagement. In 2023, Uzbekistan allocated $1.5 mln through UNRWA. In December 2023, 100 wounded Palestinian women and children were evacuated and provided with medical treatment and rehabilitation services. In 2025, Uzbekistan developed a comprehensive state support mechanism for Palestinian citizens received in the country, including asylum procedures, access to healthcare, education for children, and employment assistance. A dedicated fund under the National Agency for Social Protection was established to finance these measures through budgetary and charitable resources.

The inaugural meeting of the Peace Council held on February 19 in Washington brought together leaders and representatives of more than 40 countries. Discussions focused on humanitarian relief, infrastructure restoration, and ensuring the sustainability of the post-conflict recovery process. At the opening of the session, President Trump announced that nine countries – Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan, the UAE, Morocco, Bahrain, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Uzbekistan, and Kuwait – had jointly pledged $7 bn in assistance to Gaza, while the United States committed an additional $10 bn to support the Council’s activities.

In his address, President Mirziyoyev expressed full support for the peace initiative and confirmed Uzbekistan’s readiness to participate practically in its implementation. Particular emphasis was placed on the principle that any external governance framework for Gaza must rely on internal public support in order to ensure legitimacy, stability, and long-term effectiveness.

Highlighting the importance of coordinated international efforts, the President noted that joint actions would help secure the sustainability of the post-conflict process and accelerate socio-economic recovery. Uzbekistan also declared its readiness to contribute to the construction of residential housing, schools, kindergartens, and healthcare facilities in Gaza, thereby supporting both humanitarian and development objectives.

The Palestinian and Gaza issue has remained on the international agenda for decades without a comprehensive solution. In this context, the creation of the Peace Council represents one of the most structured multilateral attempts in recent years to address the crisis, while Uzbekistan’s participation among the founding states reflects the growing recognition of its constructive diplomatic role.

Expanding Trade and Economic Cooperation

Alongside political dialogue, the economic dimension of the visit formed a central pillar of bilateral engagement. In recent years, Uzbekistan and the United States have steadily restored institutional mechanisms of strategic partnership and expanded practical cooperation.

Cooperation with the U.S. Export-Import Bank resumed in 2017 after a 13-year hiatus. Agreements were concluded between Amazon and Uztrade, while science, technology, and economic modernization were identified among priority cooperation areas. In 2018, a $100 mln memorandum on trade financing was signed between Eximbank and Uzbekistan’s National Bank for Foreign Economic Activity. Cooperation with Openbucks supported the development of e-commerce and digital payment infrastructure.

A major milestone was reached in September 2025 during the 80th UN General Assembly in New York, where negotiations between the two presidents resulted in the formation of a portfolio of contracts and prospective projects exceeding $100 bn. The agreements covered aviation, mining and chemicals, energy, finance, and innovation. Specific arrangements included cooperation with Denali Exploration Group on rare earth elements, Re Element Technologies in rare earth metals, Flowserve on modernization of pumping stations, Valmont Industries on water-saving technologies, and Palo Alto Networks in artificial intelligence.

During the Washington visit, President Mirziyoyev held meetings with U.S. Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick, Eximbank President John Jovanovic, DFC CEO Ben Black, and U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer. Discussions focused on expanding financing for major industrial and infrastructure projects, supporting high-tech equipment exports, launching a bilateral Investment Platform, advancing Uzbekistan’s WTO accession, and strengthening regional trade cooperation under TIFA. The agreement establishing the Investment Platform was formally signed during the visit.

Additional bilateral documents were concluded covering construction of fuel station networks, sprinkler irrigation technologies, extraction and supply of critical minerals, development of poultry clusters, agro-industrial cooperation, financial market development, and investment climate reforms. The economic agenda was identified as one of the key pillars of Uzbek-American strategic partnership, with priority cooperation areas including critical raw materials, petrochemicals, energy, agriculture, and industrial modernization.

Trade and Investment Dynamics

The intensification of bilateral cooperation has already produced tangible economic results. Between 2017 and 2025, trade turnover increased 4.7-fold from $215 mln to $1 bn. Exports grew 9.1-fold to $291.7 mln, while imports rose 3.9-fold to $712.3 mln.

Exports to the United States are dominated by services (81%), including programming, financial, information, and transport services. Petroleum products account for 8.6%, machinery and equipment 3.7%, food products 3.5%, and industrial goods 3.3%.

Imports from the United States are led by machinery and equipment (59%), including aircraft, vehicles, computing equipment, engines, pumps, and industrial installations. Services account for 20.5%, chemicals 9.7%, industrial goods 3.8%, food products 3.2%, and manufactured goods 2.2%.

Investment cooperation has expanded dynamically. U.S. FDI and loans increased nearly 64-fold from $8.6 mln in 2017 to $383.2 mln in 2025, with cumulative inflows exceeding $2.9 bn. As of February 2026, 346 enterprises with U.S. capital operate in Uzbekistan, including 146 joint ventures and 200 wholly foreign-owned firms. Investments are concentrated in manufacturing, mining, construction, services, and agriculture.

Prospects for Deeper Economic Partnership

Recent dynamics indicate a transition from trade expansion toward long-term technological and industrial partnership. While services dominate exports, significant untapped potential remains in agro-processing, textiles, non-ferrous metallurgy, and higher value-added manufacturing.

Given annual U.S. imports of $118 bn in textiles and apparel, $539 bn in food products, and $213 bn in pharmaceuticals, even limited market penetration could significantly expand Uzbek exports and rebalance their structure.

Technology cooperation represents a separate strategic track. The United States accounts for 45% of Uzbekistan’s IT exports, with 448 of 800 exporters supplying digital services to the U.S. market. The next phase may involve joint industrial production in electronics and microelectronics with companies such as NVIDIA, Intel, and Qualcomm, enabling integration into global value chains.

Energy cooperation could support infrastructure modernization and renewable energy deployment, while pharmaceutical localization and joint R&D with companies such as Pfizer, Johnson & Johnson, and Merck offer additional avenues for technology transfer and investment.

Privatization and PPP initiatives create further opportunities. By 2030, the private sector share in Uzbekistan’s economy is projected to reach 85%, with stakes in 2,000 enterprises planned for sale and $30 bn in PPP projects to be launched. Cooperation with U.S. capital markets, including the NYSE and Nasdaq, may further support the development of Uzbekistan’s financial infrastructure.

Conclusion

President Mirziyoyev’s visit to Washington and participation in the inaugural Peace Council meeting carry both diplomatic and economic significance.

Uzbekistan’s engagement in the Council strengthens its international standing and expands its contribution to addressing global challenges. At the same time, the agreements reached and the expanding portfolio of joint projects elevate Uzbek-American relations to a new stage characterized by deeper institutional cooperation, industrial integration, and long-term strategic trust.

Viktor Abaturov,

Center for Economic Research and Reforms

In connection with the advent of Eid al-Adha, the holy holiday of Eid al-Adha, which embodies such noble values as mercy, generosity, humanism and harmony, and promotes an atmosphere of mutual respect and tolerance in society, President of the Republic of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev has received heartfelt congratulations from the heads of foreign States and governments, respected public and religious figures and heads of leading international and regional organizations.

In their messages, they express to the head of our state and the multinational people of Uzbekistan words of sincere respect, wishes for peace, well-being and prosperity, as well as reaffirm their commitment to the full strengthening of relations of friendship and multifaceted cooperation.



Congratulations, in particular, were sent to:

The Minister, Two Holy Shrines, King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud of Saudi Arabia;

Crown Prince Muhammad bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Chairman of the Council of Ministers of Saudi Arabia;

President Recep Tayyip Erdogan of the Republic of Turkey;

Abdelfattah Al-Sisi, President of the Arab Republic of Egypt;

President of the Republic of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev;

President of the Kyrgyz Republic Sadyr Zhaparov;

President of the Republic of Tajikistan Emomali Rahmon;

President of Turkmenistan Serdar Berdimuhamedov;

National leader of the Turkmen people, Chairman of the Khalk Maslakhaty of Turkmenistan Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov;

Ilham Aliyev, President of the Republic of Azerbaijan;

Sheikh Muhammad bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the United Arab Emirates;

Vice President, Prime Minister of the United Arab Emirates, Ruler of the Emirate of Dubai, Sheikh Mohammad bin Rashid Al Maktoum;

Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Vice President, Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Presidential Affairs of the United Arab Emirates;

Shaikh Seif bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Interior of the United Arab Emirates;

Turki bin Muhammad bin Fahd bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Minister of State and member of the Council of Ministers of Saudi Arabia;

Emir of the State of Kuwait Mishaal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah;

Crown Prince of the State of Kuwait Sabah Khaled Al-Hamad Al-Muborak Al-Sabah;

King Abdullah II of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan;

King Muhammad VI of Morocco;

Abdelmajid Tebboun, President of the People's Democratic Republic of Algeria;

Mahmoud Abbas, President of the State of Palestine;

Secretary General of the Organization of Turkic States Kubanychbek Omuraliev;

Secretary General of the Economic Cooperation Organization, Khusraw Noziri;

Secretary General of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation Hussein Ibrohim Taha;

Sheikh-ul-Islam Allahshukur Pashazade, Chairman of the Caucasus Muslims Board.

Congratulations continue to pour in.

Today, as global climate changes are observed, the population is growing, and industrial sectors are rapidly developing, the value of water resources is increasing not only in the Central Asian region but also worldwide.

According to the data, over the past 30 years, the air temperature in our region has increased by one and a half degrees, as a result of which about a third of the centuries-old glaciers in the highlands have melted, and the volume of water in rivers and streams has decreased slightly.

If current climate trends continue, in the next twenty years, the flow of the two large rivers, Amu Darya and Syr Darya, may decrease by 15%. This would result in a 25 percent reduction in per capita water availability and agricultural crop yields.

These are not just numbers, but indicators related to the fate and well-being of the people living in the region.

According to scientists, by 2040 in some areas of Central Asia, the need for water resources will triple. Over time, economic damage could reach 11% of the region's gross domestic product. The United Nations (UN) warns that countries in the region are currently losing up to US$2 billion a year due to water scarcity and inefficient use. Therefore, if appropriate measures are not taken now, it is inevitable that the countries in our region will face dire consequences of water shortages.

Under the leadership of the President of Uzbekistan, Shavkat Mirziyoyev, special attention is being paid to the comprehensive development of the water management sector in our republic, the rational use of existing water resources, including the widespread introduction of digital and water-saving irrigation technologies, and remarkable results are being achieved in this regard.

In his speech at the 78th session of the UN General Assembly on September 19, 2023, the leader of Uzbekistan emphasized the issue of water resource shortages in Central Asia, supported the establishment of the position of the UN Secretary General's Special Representative on Water Resources, and proposed creating a platform for water-saving technologies in Central Asia. In the process of using the "United Nations-Water Resources" mechanism, he emphasized his support for attracting and implementing the most advanced technologies.

This means that Uzbekistan will take the initiative in creating a platform for water-saving technologies in Central Asia, while also seeking to involve the international community in the process.

For more than 30 years since its establishment, the International Fund for Saving the Aral has become the most important platform for regional cooperation in the fields of water management and ecology. In the face of new risks and threats arising because of global climate change, the role and importance of the fund are increasing.

On September 15, 2023, President Shavkat Mirziyoyev put forward the initiative to develop and implement new, agreed-upon decisions for the long-term perspective within the framework of this structure at the meeting of the Council of Heads of the Founding States of the International Fund for Saving the Aral held in Dushanbe. Reflecting the spirit of today, he emphasized the need to further improve the fund's legal framework and modernize its institutional mechanisms.

It should be noted that in the country’s domestic policy over the past seven years, at the initiative of the President, large-scale reforms in the water sector have been implemented. To manage state policy in the field of water management, a separate Ministry of Water Resources was created and the Concept for the development of the industry for the period until 2030 was approved.

As a logical continuation of these reforms and to solve systemic problems at the middle and upper levels of the water management system, on May 7, 2024, the President of Uzbekistan signed the decree "On Setting Priorities for the Introduction and Development of a Modern Management System in Water Resources." According to this document, the activity of the Ministry of Water Resources was divided into three parts, setting up a vertical management system. At the upper level is the management of the state water policy, the regulator; the middle level is engaged in the operation and construction of water management facilities and the introduction of business processes into the sector; and the lower-level handles supplying water directly to consumers.

In the middle stage, an agency for the exploitation of water resource facilities is being set up that operates as an independent legal entity. The agency includes the Ministry of Water Resources of the Republic of Karakalpakhstan and regional irrigation systems basin departments, main canals, water reservoirs, and pumping station utilization departments, as well as land-improvement expeditions.

The department for the implementation of water management projects participates as a customer in projects funded by the budget and foreign investments. The decree envisages a 22% increase in the salary of middle- and high-level employees working in the ministry system, starting on July 1, 2024, and a 60% increase starting in 2025. It should be mentioned that starting in January 2024, the salary of lower-level employees has been doubled, and several incentive mechanisms are being used.

As a result of the accurate calculation of available water resources, special attention is paid to the introduction of water-saving technologies, resulting in abundant and high-quality harvests from agricultural crops. Nevertheless, the prevention of water scarcity remains one of the most important directions for Uzbekistan.

Uzbekistan is a country with a large water infrastructure in the Central Asian region; the total irrigated cropland exceeds 4.3 million hectares.

As one of the five priority directions of the "Uzbekistan-2030" strategy, which defines the goals of sustainable development of the country, the task of saving water resources and environmental protection is emphasized, placing great responsibility on water management employees.

To reduce water losses in irrigation networks, the year 2024 was announced as a "breakthrough year for concreting canals" in the water industry at the initiative of the President. For this purpose, 5,000 kilometers of irrigation networks, of which 1,500 kilometers are main and inter-farm and 3,500 kilometers are internal, have been concreted this year. To date, 525 kilometers of canals have been reconstructed, of which 355 kilometers have been concreted. The length of canals concreted by clusters and farms has exceeded 13,500 kilometers.

In recent years, the areas covered by water-saving technologies in the country have reached 1.3 million hectares. Of this, drip irrigation accounts for 478,000 hectares, sprinkler irrigation for 55,000 hectares, and discrete method irrigation for 29,000 hectares. Over 700,000 hectares have been leveled using laser leveling equipment.

Work on the introduction of water-saving technologies, which started in previous years, is being continued consistently. This year alone, it is planned to introduce cost-effective technologies on 500,000 hectares of land and to fully cover all irrigated farming areas in the country with such technologies by 2030.

All possibilities and resources are being used for this. Today, the number of local enterprises producing equipment and components for water-saving technologies in Uzbekistan has reached 55, with plans to increase this number in the future.

In recent years, 11,446 "Smart Water" devices, online water level monitoring meters in 1,704 pumping units, and online monitoring of seepage water levels have been installed in 6,746 reclamation monitoring wells. To manage water resources from one point without human intervention, the management processes of 65 large water management facilities were automated.

It is planned to save 8 billion cubic meters of water in 2024 through the concreting of channels, the introduction of water-saving technologies, the digitization of the industry, the implementation of "smart" devices, and effective water management.

It should be noted that 60 percent of the irrigated cropland in the country is supplied with water through pumps. There are more than 1,600 pumping stations in the Ministry's system, and due to their modernization, installation of modern energy-saving devices, and the introduction of public-private partnerships, electricity consumption has been reduced by 1.5 billion kWh in the last seven years.

In the coming years, the total cost of the water industry will be $6.0 trillion. Agreements for 463 public-private partnership projects worth significant amounts in soums were signed. In 2023, all water management facilities in five districts and 300 pumping stations across the republic will be transferred to the private sector.

This transfer increases work efficiency, saves up to 30% on electricity at pumping stations, and reduces salary deductions by 13%.

The "Irrigators' School" was launched in cooperation with the Ministry of Water Resources, the "Tashkent Institute of Irrigation and Agricultural Mechanization Engineers," the National Research University, and "Agrobank." Highly qualified specialists from abroad are organizing one-week-long free training courses for designers, contractors, managers of farms, and cluster enterprises from all districts of the republic.

In short, life itself proves that the only solution to mitigate the water shortage in our region is to save water and use it wisely.

Press service of the Ministry of Water Resources
of the Republic of Uzbekistan

TASHKENT — Uzbekistan has unveiled its updated Uzbekistan–2030 Strategy, marking a major step in the country’s journey toward national reform and development. Officials emphasise that implementing reform requires responsibility, consistency, institutional discipline, and public legitimacy. The government has revised the strategy following extensive public consultations, ensuring that citizens’ voices are reflected in the results-based policy framework. Aligned with international standards and designed to advance the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, the strategy positions Uzbekistan as an active participant in the global development agenda.

A defining feature of the strategy is its emphasis on measurable implementation. Authorities have established 100 goals to be assessed annually through 2030, each with designated institutions, mechanisms, and financing sources. This approach creates a governance model centred on accountability and transparency. International organisations and development partners will also be able to monitor progress, access reports, and contribute expertise — a move officials say will further enhance transparency and attract external support.

The first major priority of the strategy is to create opportunities for every person to realise their potential, with 44 goals linked to human development. These include targets for expanding access to education, healthcare, employment, and social protection. In education, the government aims to boost pre-school coverage to 80 per cent, achieve universal participation in school-preparation groups, and modernise schools with electronic boards and new-generation textbooks. Teachers’ salaries are set to double, and 500,000 education staff will receive ongoing professional development. Higher and vocational education goals include expanding access, improving graduate employability, and increasing the number of internationally accredited university programs to 200.

Officials have tied human capital development to advances in science and innovation. The strategy calls for raising spending on science to 1 per cent of GDP, increasing the number of research and innovation projects, and propelling Uzbekistan into the top 60 of the Global Innovation Index.

Healthcare reforms aim to increase average life expectancy to 78 years, with health expenditure projected to rise to 5 per cent of GDP. Priorities include reducing premature deaths from major diseases, improving maternal and child health, and expanding digital healthcare services. Broader social goals include increasing women’s representation in leadership and civil service, eliminating extreme poverty, reducing unemployment to 4 per cent, and training 2 million citizens in new skills and foreign languages.

Youth policy is another central pillar, with goals to offer free foreign language instruction to 7 million young people, train 3 million in modern professions using AI tools, and employ 300,000 in the IT sector. The strategy also seeks to boost participation in sports, culture, and the arts nationwide.

The second major priority is sustainable economic growth. The government has set targets to increase GDP from $145 billion to over $240 billion by 2030, and GDP per capita from $3,800 to $5,800. Other economic targets include keeping inflation at 5 per cent, public debt below 50 per cent of GDP, and the budget deficit under 3 per cent.

Plans for industry focus on diversification and value addition, with aims to boost high-tech output, raise car production to 1 million units (including 200,000 electric vehicles), create 1.8 million industrial jobs, and increase industrial value added to $60 billion. The government expects over 400 strategic projects worth $150 billion in foreign investment. Financial reforms will include bank privatisation, expanded credit, and the development of Islamic finance.

The strategy also emphasises the green economy. Officials want renewable energy to account for 54 per cent of total generation and to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 35 per cent. Transport and logistics improvements will include expanding transit freight, repairing or building roads, and modernising airports. In agriculture, the focus is on boosting productivity and exports, with a target of $10 billion in agricultural exports.

Environmental protection and water saving are also key goals. Uzbekistan plans to improve water-use efficiency by 25 per cent, fully meter drinking water, and expand water-saving technology in agriculture. Other environmental targets include increasing urban greenery, expanding forested land, and creating new green spaces in the Aral Sea region and deserts. The government also aims to improve biodiversity, waste management, air quality, and climate resilience.

Strengthening the rule of law and public service is another core priority. The strategy aims to improve local governance, expand electronic public services, and reduce emergency response times. Legislative reforms will focus on increasing the number of directly applicable laws and reducing the regulatory burden. At the same time, additional measures will promote meritocracy, judicial reform, human rights, anti-corruption, and public oversight.

The strategy also calls for advancing a safe and peace-loving state by promoting an active foreign policy, regional cooperation, support for Uzbeks abroad, and better-managed labour migration. Targets include increasing the number of visa-free destinations for Uzbek citizens, boosting trade turnover with neighbours, expanding diplomatic representation abroad, and advancing WTO accession. Other goals include defence modernisation, disaster preparedness, and strengthening public trust and interethnic harmony.

A formal monitoring system will track implementation through a digital platform, using colour-coded performance categories to flag progress or delays. The Development Strategy Centre will play a key role in monitoring strategic indicators and recommending improvements.

The Uzbekistan–2030 Strategy stands out for combining ambition with a structured, results-oriented approach. Rather than isolated initiatives, the government is pursuing a coordinated, accountable, and long-term transformation agenda. The strategy is expected to guide Uzbekistan’s development and reform efforts well into the next decade.

By Eldor Tulyakov,

Executive Director, Development Strategy Centre

On May 15, President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev paid a working visit to the city of Turkestan, where he took part in the informal summit of the Organization of Turkic States. The visit featured an extensive political, economic, and humanitarian agenda, as well as a series of high-level bilateral meetings. In an interview with the correspondent of Dunyo IA, First Deputy Director of the Institute for Strategic and Regional Studies under the President of Uzbekistan Akramjon Nematov shared his views on the significance of the summit, emerging trends in the development of the OTS, and Uzbekistan’s initiatives.

— President Shavkat Mirziyoyev’s participation in the informal summit of the Organization of Turkic States in Turkestan was highly intensive both in terms of substance and the number of bilateral engagements. In your opinion, what made this visit particularly noteworthy and distinctive?

— First and foremost, I would note that this visit reflected a qualitatively new stage both in the development of the Organization of Turkic States itself and in the role of Central Asia within the emerging architecture of Eurasian cooperation.

Notably, the summit agenda extended far beyond cultural and humanitarian cooperation to encompass issues directly linked to future economic and technological development — digitalization, artificial intelligence, transport connectivity, and innovation. This reflects the OTS’s gradual transformation into a more pragmatic platform oriented toward practical cooperation.

Such an approach is particularly close to Uzbekistan, as our country has consistently advocated open, mutually beneficial, and technology-driven cooperation across Eurasia. Amid ongoing global transformation, connectivity, resilient supply chains, digital infrastructure, and joint industrial development are becoming key determinants of long-term regional competitiveness.

Another distinctive feature of the summit is the increasingly prominent role of Central Asia as an independent center of regional dynamism. It is symbolic that the meeting took place in Turkestan, one of the most important spiritual and historical centers of the Turkic world. This underscores the growing importance of our region not only as a space of shared historical and cultural heritage, but also as a major hub of economic, transport, and humanitarian connectivity.

Particular attention should be paid to the bilateral meetings held by the President of Uzbekistan with President of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, President of Kyrgyzstan Sadyr Japarov, and President of Türkiye Recep Tayyip Erdoğan. These meetings demonstrated the high level of trust and intensity of regional dialogue.

In particular, talks with the Kyrgyz side focused on advancing major infrastructure projects, above all the China–Kyrgyzstan–Uzbekistan railway. Today, such projects carry not merely transport significance but strategic importance, as they are shaping a new geoeconomic configuration of Eurasia and strengthening Central Asia’s role as a key transit, manufacturing, and logistics hub.

The meeting with the Turkish leader also confirmed that Uzbek-Turkish relations have reached the level of a stable comprehensive strategic partnership. This is no longer solely about expanding trade or investment, but about building long-term cooperation in industry, technology, logistics, education, and other sectors.

The humanitarian dimension of the visit was equally significant. The visit to the mosque built by the Uzbek side in Turkestan became a vivid symbol of the strengthening fraternal ties between Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan and reflected the shared historical, spiritual, and cultural affinity of the two peoples. Importantly, the humanitarian dimension is increasingly serving as a natural complement to economic and political cooperation in the region.

In a broader context, the visit confirms that Uzbekistan continues to pursue an open and balanced foreign policy aimed at fostering constructive engagement with all partners. It is fundamentally important that the countries of Central Asia view Turkic cooperation not as a closed geopolitical project, but as part of a broader architecture of inclusive and mutually beneficial cooperation across Eurasia.

This is precisely why Central Asia is increasingly asserting itself as an independent actor in international relations with its own agenda based on the principles of good-neighborliness, connectivity, pragmatism, and shared responsibility for the region’s sustainable development.

— What agenda did Uzbekistan bring to the informal OTS summit in Turkestan, and what, in your view, was particularly noteworthy about the initiatives put forward by President Shavkat Mirziyoyev?

— Uzbekistan presented at the summit of the Organization of Turkic States a highly comprehensive yet pragmatic agenda aimed not only at strengthening the cultural and civilizational commonality of the Turkic world, but above all at shaping a new architecture of technological, transport, investment, and humanitarian cooperation.

What distinguished President Shavkat Mirziyoyev’s address was its emphasis on transforming the OTS from a predominantly political and cultural platform into a mechanism for practical integration in the most promising and strategically sensitive areas of the 21st century — artificial intelligence, digital infrastructure, logistics, climate security, and cyber resilience.

Notably, Uzbekistan effectively proposed a conceptual vision for a “Digital Turkic Space.” The discussion has moved beyond cultural affinity or expanding trade toward the creation of a common technological ecosystem. It was in this context that the initiative to establish a strategic cooperation network in the field of artificial intelligence was advanced, along with the concept of a “Digital Turkic Corridor” designed to connect regional data centers and digital platforms through high-speed communication channels.

It is especially important that the President of Uzbekistan linked the digital agenda with the historical and intellectual heritage of Turkic civilization. References to Muhammad al-Khorazmiy, Ahmad al-Farganiy, Abu Rayhan al-Beruniy, and Mirzo Ulugbek gave the speech greater depth and intellectual dimension. In doing so, it was emphasized that modern technological modernization is viewed not as an external borrowing, but as a natural continuation of the region’s own scientific legacy.

Another important feature was Uzbekistan’s promotion of the institutionalization of cooperation. Virtually all of the President’s initiatives were practical in nature and aimed at establishing concrete mechanisms of interaction — a joint venture fund with Kazakhstan, a Technology Forum in Tashkent, a big data platform for consolidating shared cultural heritage, a Turkic Cybersecurity Alliance, and a climate risk monitoring system based on satellite data.

It is also indicative that Uzbekistan consistently promotes the nexus between digitalization, transport connectivity, and security. Particular emphasis in the speech was placed on integrating the Middle Corridor with the China–Kyrgyzstan–Uzbekistan railway, the digitalization of customs procedures, and the launch of a unified logistics space. In essence, this involves the formation of a new Eurasian transport and technological framework in which Central Asia becomes not a periphery, but one of the key hubs.

The environmental dimension of the initiatives also deserves special attention. Uzbekistan proposed viewing the climate agenda as an issue of collective security for the Turkic space. The initiative to declare 2027 the Year of Environmental Protection within the OTS framework, along with proposals for joint monitoring of droughts, soil degradation, and glacier melt, reflects the intention to provide the Organization with a more modern and globally relevant agenda.

Equally important is that amid growing international turbulence, President Shavkat Mirziyoyev placed special emphasis on trust, coordination, and collective resilience. The proposal to establish a Turkic Cybersecurity Alliance reflects the understanding that emerging threats are increasingly taking shape not only in the traditional military-political sphere, but also in the digital domain.

Overall, Uzbekistan’s address demonstrated that Tashkent views the OTS as a long-term platform for strategic cooperation capable of becoming one of the independent centers of technological, economic, and humanitarian development across Eurasia. At the same time, the distinguishing feature of Uzbekistan’s approach lies in its combination of pragmatism, institutional thinking, and the concept of open regional connectivity.

— How would you assess the overall outcomes of the OTS summit, and what is its practical significance today?

— Viewed in a broader strategic context, the recently concluded summit of the Organization of Turkic States demonstrated that the OTS is gradually moving beyond a predominantly symbolic and humanitarian model of interaction toward becoming a fully-fledged platform for practical cooperation in a rapidly changing world.

And this is perhaps the principal outcome of the meeting in Turkestan.

Today, the international system is undergoing a period of profound transformation. Geopolitical fragmentation is intensifying, competition for transport routes, technologies, resources, and markets is growing, and established logistics chains are being disrupted. The importance of infrastructure resilience, energy security, digital sovereignty, and food stability is steadily increasing. Against this backdrop, states are increasingly seeking regional formats of cooperation capable of ensuring resilience to external shocks.

It is precisely in this context that the outcomes of the OTS summit should be viewed.

The practical significance of the meeting lies primarily in the fact that the countries of the Turkic world have begun discussing not abstract integration ideas, but concrete mechanisms for joint development — transport corridors, digital infrastructure, technological cooperation, climate resilience, logistics, and cybersecurity.

It is highly indicative that virtually all speeches delivered by the leaders focused, in one way or another, on connectivity and resilience. President of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev emphasized the need to strengthen the transport and transit potential of the Turkic space and further develop the Middle Corridor. President of Türkiye Recep Tayyip Erdoğan stressed the importance of logistics integration and expanding economic cooperation among OTS member states. President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev paid particular attention to transport connectivity and the region’s role in shaping new Eurasian routes. All of this reflects a shared understanding that transport, logistics, and infrastructure connectivity are becoming the foundation of the new regional economy.

In this regard, Central Asia is gradually transforming into one of the key hubs of Eurasia. The region is no longer perceived solely as a transit space. Today, the focus is on the emergence of a new manufacturing, logistics, and investment hub linking East and West, North and South.

That is why such importance is attached to the China–Kyrgyzstan–Uzbekistan railway, the integration of the Middle Corridor, the digitalization of customs procedures, and the development of data centers and logistics platforms. In effect, a new infrastructural geography of Eurasia is taking shape.

It is particularly important that the summit clearly highlighted the interconnection between transport connectivity, digitalization, and security. Today, the resilience of states is determined not only by military capabilities, but also by their ability to ensure the uninterrupted functioning of transport corridors, energy networks, digital infrastructure, and supply chains.

In this sense, Uzbekistan’s initiatives appear highly timely and strategically sound. The proposals to establish a “Digital Turkic Corridor,” a Turkic Cybersecurity Alliance, a climate risk monitoring system, and joint artificial intelligence platforms reflect an understanding that competition in the 21st century will increasingly unfold in the technological and infrastructural domains.

The climate agenda also deserves special attention. Just a few years ago, such issues were perceived as secondary, whereas today they are directly linked to economic resilience and security. Water scarcity, soil degradation, and extreme weather events have a direct impact on energy, agriculture, transport, and migration processes. Therefore, Uzbekistan’s proposal to establish climate risk monitoring mechanisms and declare 2027 the Year of Environmental Protection appears especially timely and relevant.

It is also noteworthy that the summit demonstrated a high level of political trust among the Central Asian states. Just a few years ago, it would have been difficult to imagine such an intensive level of regional interaction. Today, however, Central Asia is acting no longer as an object of major powers’ foreign policies, but as an independent actor in international relations capable of shaping its own agenda and advancing major regional initiatives.

Overall, it can be said that the practical value of the summit lies in strengthening the region’s long-term resilience. The focus is on creating mechanisms that will enable the countries of the Turkic space to jointly adapt to global transformations — technological, economic, climatic, and geopolitical.

For this reason, the current summit should be viewed not merely as a diplomatic event, but as an important stage in shaping a new model of regional cooperation across Eurasia based on pragmatism, connectivity, technological development, and collective resilience.

In the year of a historic achievement for national sport – the first-ever qualification of Uzbekistan’s national football team for the FIFA World Cup – the documentary film “O'zbek futboli” has been unveiled, telling the story of more than a century of the formation and development of football in our country.

The production of the film coincides with an event that has become a source of national pride and a landmark moment in the history of modern Uzbekistan. The national team's qualification for the FIFA World Cup is not only an outstanding sporting accomplishment, but also a historic opportunity to revisit the origins of Uzbek football and pay tribute to the people, teams, and milestones that have shaped its legacy and brought this long-awaited success within reach over the course of more than one hundred years.

The idea for the documentary emerged in September 2023 during a meeting between the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan, Shavkat Mirziyoyev, and representatives of the Uzbek diaspora in New York. During the meeting, an initiative was proposed to create a documentary dedicated to the history of Uzbek football and its development over more than a century. The initiative received the support of the Head of State, after which work on the project commenced with the assistance of the Press Service of the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan and the Center for National Content Development (Content Center), under the leadership of Kobuljon Akhmedov.

“O'zbek futboli” is an effort to preserve for future generations the story of the individuals whose dedication enabled Uzbek football to travel the remarkable path from the first matches of the early twentieth century to the country's participation in the FIFA World Cup. The documentary is built upon archival materials, eyewitness accounts, and interviews with football veterans, coaches, sports experts, journalists, and current members of the national team.

Filming took place in Tashkent, Kokand, and London. These locations were carefully selected to trace the key stages in football's development – from its beginnings in Uzbekistan to the origins of the modern global game. Particular attention was devoted to historical accuracy, recreating the atmosphere of different eras, and presenting an honest and authentic account of the journey Uzbek football has undertaken over the past century.

The film explores not only the national team's road to its historic World Cup qualification but also the broader evolution of football culture in Uzbekistan. It tells the story of the emergence of the country's first football clubs, the growth of youth academies, professional teams, coaching traditions, the role of supporters, and the contributions made by many generations of athletes to the development of national football.

The documentary features legendary footballers of previous generations, current players of the Uzbekistan national team, coaches, referees, sports officials, journalists, and researchers of football history. By bringing together the voices of several generations, the film allows audiences to experience the story of Uzbek football through the eyes of those who lived it and helped shape it.

At its heart, the documentary conveys a simple yet powerful message: great victories are never accidental. Every success is built upon years of hard work, an unwavering belief in a dream, and the efforts of countless people across generations. Through this film, its creators seek to emphasize the importance of respecting history, preserving continuity between generations, loving one's homeland, believing in one's own potential, and uniting society around a common goal.

“O'zbek futboli” is a story about how dreams become reality when an entire nation continues to believe in them for many years.

Uzbek football is not merely the fulfillment of a dream. It is a reward bestowed upon generations of people who refused to stop believing in it.

https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1ZwkXogix-5oZmlgy5s1uWIzG5AJ7TFck

Leading international media outlets - including “CNN”, “Forbes”, “The Wall Street Journal”, “The Economist”, “Arab News” and “China Daily” - characterize the project as a “global-scale megaproject”, “pearl of Central Asia and a space that is shaping the modern understanding of Islamic civilization”.

The opening of the Center of Islamic Civilization in Uzbekistan has sparked broad international interest and has become a focal point for the world's leading media. Publications about the Center have appeared in more than 20 countries and in 7 languages - including English, Arabic, Spanish, Chinese, Hindi, Turkish and Russian - reaching a total audience of over 1.5 billion people. These materials, prepared by international journalists, analysts and experts, reflect the high level of interest in the project from the global professional community.

International media emphasize the symbolic nature of this event. As “Arab News” notes, “the opening of the Center, initiated by President of Uzbekistan, took place during the holy month of Ramadan, just as the laying of the first stone did eight years ago, giving the project a special historical and spiritual continuity”. Meanwhile, “Khaleej Times” writes that the Center represents a “unique space where cutting-edge technology and modern scientific approaches are harmoniously combined”.

As “Forbes” notes, “under the leadership of President Shavkat Mirziyoyev, the country is implementing a strategy of sustainable development and economic openness” and amidst rapid technological changes and growing global tensions - ranging from geopolitical conflicts to discussions on cultural identity - Center of Islamic Civilization “is transforming its civilizational heritage into a modern tool of soft power”. “The Wall Street Journal” points out that the Center “unites a rich historical legacy”, highlighting its integrative function.

“China Daily” refers to the Center of Islamic Civilization as “one of Uzbekistan's key cultural and scientific projects”, contributing to the strengthening of cultural and humanitarian cooperation between Uzbekistan and China, while “The Korea Times” notes that the complex “reflects the humanistic and enlightening essence of Islamic civilization” and “serves as a modern platform for cultural dialogue and scientific collaboration”.

“Euronews” characterizes the Center as a “new hub for heritage and research”, bringing together scientific research, education and modern exhibition practices. The Spanish publication “ABC” notes that “Uzbekistan is reviving the legacy of the Great Silk Road”, linking the project to the region's historical role as a center of civilizational exchange.

In turn, Hungarian publication “Hello Magyar” emphasizes that “the complex's architectural concept is impressive not only for its grandeur but also for its full compliance with modern urban planning and environmental sustainability standards”, noting its architectural expressiveness and alignment with contemporary sustainable development requirements. The Turkish publication “Yeni Konya” characterized the Center of Islamic Civilization as a “monumental and majestic center that can be considered one of the most important historical, cultural and artistic achievements of the Islamic world in the last century”.

In Azerbaijani media, specifically the publication “Caliber.az”, Center of Islamic Civilization in Uzbekistan has been described as a “candidate for the Guinness World Records”, highlighting its immense scale and uniqueness.

Center is becoming more than just a new museum; it is part of a broader narrative - a story of how countries rediscover their heritage and make it accessible to the world. Today, the Center is already open to visitors. Experts also note the Center's potential influence on the development of cultural tourism. This new complex is capable of becoming a key attraction for international visitors, strengthening interest in Uzbekistan as a destination with a unique historical and intellectual legacy. However, judging by the attention from the global press, its significance extends far beyond tourism.

Given the recent geopolitical instability observed around the world, one of the top priorities for every sovereign state is to ensure the security and continuity of its foreign trade routes.

For Uzbekistan, located at the geopolitical center of Central Asia, it is strategically important to maintain the continuous and stable operation of transport and logistics corridors with European countries, which account for a significant share of its foreign trade. It should be noted that in 2025, the volume of Uzbekistan’s international freight traffic with European countries amounted to 1.5 million tons, which is 29% more than in 2024.

Today, the Middle Corridor serves as a safe and reliable transport corridor for export shipments to Europe or import shipments from Europe via land transport. Azerbaijan is one of the most important hubs of the Middle Corridor. In January–March 2026, the volume of international freight traffic between Uzbekistan and Azerbaijan amounted to 28,300 tons, which is 2.9 times more than during the same period in 2025.

Overall, over the past five years, the volume of Uzbek cargo transported via the Middle Corridor has doubled, reaching 1.2 million tons by the end of 2025. While in 2021 the share of cargo transported via this corridor with EU countries was 12%, by the end of 2025 this figure had reached 28%.

Due to its geographical location, Azerbaijan serves as a natural bridge connecting Central Asia to the Caucasus region and Turkey via the Caspian Sea. It will enable the reception of export cargo from the East (China, Central Asia, including Uzbekistan) and its direct shipment to European markets via the ports of Poti and Batumi in Georgia and Mersin and Ambarli in Turkey.

Today, bilateral and multilateral cooperation in the transport and logistics sector has been established between Uzbekistan and Azerbaijan. This cooperation makes a significant contribution not only to the development of bilateral relations but also to the development of the Middle Corridor, connecting the Central Asian region with Europe.

Recent reports by prestigious international financial institutions, such as the World Bank and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, dedicated to studying the potential of the “Middle Corridor,” have analyzed a number of obstacles that reduce the corridor’s effectiveness. In particular, international experts note that one of the main challenges to the corridor’s development is the disparity in digitalization levels among transit countries, the lack of a unified platform for information exchange, and the persistence of paper-based bureaucratic processes at border and customs checkpoints.

It is precisely to address these systemic challenges in practice and increase the capacity of the “Middle Corridor” between Uzbekistan and Azerbaijan that active and exemplary digital integration processes have been established. In particular, the “E-TIR” system has been successfully implemented, streamlining customs procedures between the two countries and reducing the human factor. Additionally, in the field of international road transport, efforts are actively underway to fully transition to the paperless “E-PERMIT” system.

Furthermore, Uzbekistan and Azerbaijan are implementing the necessary measures to develop freight transport within the “Asia-Pacific Region – China – Kyrgyzstan – Uzbekistan – Turkmenistan – Azerbaijan – Turkey – Europe” (CASCA+) framework for multimodal transport along the Middle Corridor. In 2025, 6,722 TEU container shipments were carried out on this international route, which is 47% more than in 2024. Preferential rates have also been established for this route for 2026, and a further increase in transport volumes is expected.

It should be noted that the railway administrations of Uzbekistan and Azerbaijan are the initiators and active participants in the implementation of a set of measures aimed at developing the “Middle Corridor” transport and logistics network. In particular, to further expand the potential of this corridor, a multilateral meeting was held in 2024 between the railway authorities of Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Turkey, and Tajikistan. Following these negotiations, an institutional platform—the “Eurasian Transport Route” Association—was established to accelerate freight transportation processes and create a mechanism for the prompt removal of logistical barriers arising within the system.

In conclusion, it should be noted that the strategic partnership between Uzbekistan and Azerbaijan in the transport and logistics sector contributes not only to the stabilization of the two countries’ foreign trade turnover but also to the integration of the entire Central Asian region into the international supply chain. The implementation of digital solutions that eliminate bureaucratic barriers, the diversification of multimodal routes, and the strengthening of institutional mechanisms will further enhance the international transit appeal of the “Middle Corridor.” This, in turn, will increase the resilience of Uzbekistan’s economy to external shocks amid global geopolitical changes and serve as a solid guarantee for the safe and uninterrupted conduct of international transport operations.

The declaration of independence and the commitment of the Government of Uzbekistan to the ideals of democracy, the choice of a secular path of development of society have gradually made it possible to create equal legal conditions for the existence of religions in general and religious groups in particular.

In the religious sphere, this large-scale work is carried out by the relevant state bodies and civil society institutions and is aimed at ensuring citizens' constitutionally guaranteed right to freedom of conscience; strengthening religious pluralism, tolerance and interfaith dialogue.

One of the significant results of joint work is the adoption in December 2018 by the UN General Assembly of a special resolution "Enlightenment and Religious Tolerance".

The adoption of the resolution was a practical implementation of the initiative of the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev, put forward at the 72nd session of the UN General Assembly. The main goal of the proposed resolution is "to ensure universal access to education, the elimination of illiteracy and ignorance."

It is noteworthy that the resolution was not only unanimously supported by all UN member states, but also adopted with the co-authorship of over 50 countries. This testifies to the high recognition by the international community of the relevance and timeliness of the initiative of the President of Uzbekistan.

In recent years, significant changes have taken place in Uzbekistan and large-scale reforms have been implemented in many areas, including in the religious and educational sphere.

A number of legislative acts have been adopted aimed at further improving activities in the religious sphere.

In order to deepen the study of Islam and teach its scientific foundations, the International Islamic Academy of Uzbekistan was created. The Academy specializes in teaching secular and religious knowledge, training qualified personnel in the interpretation of the Koran, Islamic law, religious dogmas and hadiths.

In Uzbekistan, unique mechanisms are used to revive national and religious values, study and promote the rich scientific and spiritual heritage of great ancestors, and strengthen religious tolerance in society. The activities of the Center for Islamic Civilization, international research centers of Imam Bukhari, Imam Termizi, Imam Maturidi, Bahauddin Naqshbandi have been established.

As a result of large-scale reforms and transformations carried out in the religious sphere, the Higher Madrasah Mir Arab in Bukhara, the School of Hadith Studies in Samarkand, the Madrasah of Imam Termizi and the Islamic Institute named after Imam Termizi in Termez began their activities.

In addition, the Charitable Public Fund "Vakf" was established under the Office of Muslims of Uzbekistan, whose tasks include financing work on the reconstruction of mosques, holy places of pilgrimage and visits, other objects, providing material and technical support and providing material support to employees in this field. The Fund received the opportunity to dispose of funds coming to 3 accounts: charitable, vakf and zakat (ushr, fidya, fitr).

In accordance with the adopted legislative acts, in order to further improve the activities of the Committee on Religious Affairs, a new composition of the Council for Religious Affairs has been approved, which is a public advisory body under the Committee.

The activities of the Council are inextricably linked with ensuring freedom of religion in the country, respecting the rights of religious organizations and believers. The initiatives of the members of the Council are fully implemented within the framework of measures taken by the country's leadership in the field of protecting and further strengthening the rights and freedoms of religious movements.

The significance and timeliness of the measures taken by the country's leadership served as the basis for holding the international forum "Dialogue of Declarations" in Tashkent, Samarkand and Bukhara on May 16-20, 2022. This event was part of the systematic and consistent efforts of Uzbekistan to practically implement the principles and provisions enshrined in the Special Resolution of the UN General Assembly "Enlightenment and Religious Tolerance", adopted in 2018 on the initiative of President Shavkat Mirziyoyev.

It is especially worth noting that at the past 76th session of the UN General Assembly, the "Bukhara Declaration" adopted following the results of this forum was recognized as an official UN document. As an official UN document, the document has been translated into 6 languages and distributed among the UN member states, as well as specialized agencies of the organization.

The second round of the international forum will be held on September 10-13, 2025 with the assistance of several NGOs from the USA. The participants of the event also visited Samarkand, where they got acquainted with the activities of the reconstructed complex of Imam Bukhari.

Uzbekistan has special dates that are closely related to the religious life of believers: these are "Day of Friendship of Peoples", celebrated on July 30, and "International Day of Tolerance", celebrated on November 16. Both of these dates are marked not only by holding events, but also by awarding the corresponding badges - the badge "Khalklar dustligi" ("Friendship of Peoples") has been awarded since 2021, and the badge "Diniy bagrikenklik" ("Religious Tolerance") began to be awarded to distinguished citizens since 2023. Among the awardees are representatives of various religious denominations of Uzbekistan.

At the same time, Uzbekistan attaches great importance to the preservation of religious and spiritual heritage, the enrichment of existing funds, the creation of necessary conditions for local and foreign researchers to work with historical sources, and the comprehensive study of historical and cultural heritage.

Today, in the country, in order to ensure interethnic and interfaith harmony in society, a legislative framework has been created that provides for the observance of the rights and legitimate interests of citizens.

The Constitution of the Republic of Uzbekistan enshrines the norm on freedom of religion for every person. Attention is also paid to improving and liberalizing national legislation in the field of religion. The procedures for obtaining permission for the production, import and distribution of religious literature have been simplified. The procedure for state registration of religious organizations has been further optimized.

Currently, the new Law "On Freedom of Conscience and Religious Organizations" is in force, which contributes to ensuring the constitutional rights of citizens of the country to freedom of conscience and religion.

Noting the fundamental innovations in the Law as a consistent continuation of large-scale reforms in the religious and educational sphere, special attention should be paid, first of all, to the creation of favorable conditions for ensuring freedom of conscience for every person, and clarifying law enforcement practice.

Currently, 2373 religious organizations of 16 religious denominations operate in Uzbekistan. Of these, Muslim organizations - 2174, which is 92 percent of the total number.

There are also 181 Christian organizations, 8 Jewish communities, 7 Baha'i communities, one Krishna society and one Buddhist temple, as well as the interfaith Biblical Society of Uzbekistan operating in Uzbekistan.

Recently, 134 religious organizations have been registered in Uzbekistan, including 3 higher and one secondary specialized Islamic educational institutions in Bukhara, Samarkand and Termez, 105 mosques and 25 non-Islamic organizations of 7 different religious denominations.

At the same time, the national legislation of Uzbekistan does not provide for any restrictions on the number of religious organizations or the terms of their registration.

Religious organizations operating in the republic, along with other public organizations, actively participate in spiritual and educational work, make a significant contribution to improving the spirituality of society, and forming strong beliefs in young people based on patriotism, as well as interfaith and interethnic tolerance.

It should be noted that religious policy in Uzbekistan is based on the principles of the secular nature of the state, religious tolerance and equal treatment of all religions. In the republic, representatives of various nations and ethnic groups professing Islam, Christianity, Buddhism, Judaism and other religions carry out their activities on equal terms.

All conditions have been created for adherents of each denomination, allowing them to freely and unhindered practice their religion.

Believers freely pray in mosques, churches, synagogues, observe fasting, and also make pilgrimages. Religious organizations have the right to own territory, publish literature, train their religious ministers, and organize pilgrimages to holy places.

The freedom of religion guaranteed by the national legislation of Uzbekistan has created all the necessary conditions for meeting the religious needs of all citizens - representatives of 136 national and ethnic groups.

Representatives of different faiths freely celebrate all religious holidays. Thus, from year to year, Kurban-Hayit and Ramadan-Hayit are celebrated on an increasingly large scale among Muslims, Easter and Christmas - among Christians, Pesach, Purim and Hanukkah - among Jews, Navruz - among Baha'is, as well as celebrations dedicated to Buddha and Krishna and other major events.

Believers make pilgrimages to holy places: Muslims to Saudi Arabia to perform the Hajj and Umrah rituals, Christians - to Russia, Greece and Israel, Jews - to Israel.

Over the years of independence, more than 484 thousand Muslims have made pilgrimages to Saudi Arabia, including 188 thousand - Hajj and 296 thousand - Umrah, more than 3.2 thousand Christians and Jews have visited religious shrines in Israel, Russia, Turkey, Italy, Georgia, Greece.

To meet the spiritual needs of society, a large number of religious literature of various orientations is published annually. To fully cover the religious life of Uzbekistan, a number of newspapers and magazines are published, including the newspapers "Islom nuri", "Slovo zhizni", the magazines "Khidoyat", "Vostok svyshe".

Today, in Uzbekistan, on a systematic basis, a set of measures is being carried out to protect the population from the negative influence of destructive ideas that reflect radical extremist ideology and religious fanaticism.

An important step in this direction was the application of acts of pardon. In particular, since 2017, 29 decrees of the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan have been adopted on pardoning persons who have committed crimes.

It should be noted that in recent years, within the framework of the consistent policy pursued in Uzbekistan in the field of protecting the rights and freedoms of citizens, special attention is paid to measures aimed at protecting the rights, freedoms, honor and dignity not only of citizens residing in the republic, but also of our compatriots who find themselves in difficult life situations in foreign countries.

Unfortunately, some of our citizens, who have fallen under the influence of alien ideas, believing false promises, in different years joined the ranks of international terrorist organizations in armed conflict zones abroad. Spouses, fathers of some women returned as part of humanitarian operations, died in the course of armed clashes.

Given this circumstance, on the instructions of the President of Uzbekistan, five humanitarian actions "Mehr" were successfully carried out in 2019-2021, within the framework of which more than 500 citizens of the republic, mainly women and children, were returned to their homeland from the zones of armed conflicts in the Middle East and in Afghanistan.

In order to further assist in their speedy reintegration and rehabilitation, a set of measures has been implemented at the state level to provide timely medical, psychological, material and moral assistance. To date, all returnees have been provided with the necessary conditions for their adaptation to peaceful life and integration into society, access to educational and other social programs has been provided, including through the provision of housing and employment.

In general, it is worth noting that an important distinguishing feature of the religious life of modern Uzbekistan is the inadmissibility of establishing advantages or restrictions for one religion in relation to other denominations.

One of the main priorities of reforming society in order to ensure interethnic harmony and religious tolerance is to ensure and protect the rights and freedoms of citizens, their equality before the law regardless of race, gender, nationality, language, social origin, beliefs, religion, personal and social status, which are enshrined in the Constitution of Uzbekistan.

Uzbekistan consistently and steadily fulfills its international obligations in the field of ensuring religious freedoms within the framework of international human rights treaties.

As is known, Uzbekistan has acceded to more than 70 major international human rights instruments. Accession to these documents contributed to the creation of an effective human rights protection system in Uzbekistan.

It is important that Uzbekistan's policy in the field of religion, aimed at strengthening interfaith dialogue and religious tolerance in society, is an important factor of stability and security.

In conclusion, I would like to emphasize that the large-scale reforms being carried out in the country are a clear confirmation of the consistent continuation by the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan of the implementation of the principle "Everything in the name of man, in the name of his future."

Committee on Religious Affairs

Over the past decade, the socio-economic, cultural, humanitarian, scientific, and educational relations between the Republic of Uzbekistan and the countries of Central Asia have clearly demonstrated that the region's strategic partners have entered a fundamentally new stage of mutually beneficial cooperation.

Particularly noteworthy is the fact that the recent agreements and high-level meetings among the Presidents of the Central Asian states have provided a strong impetus to the development of educational transfer, scientific cooperation, joint innovation projects, and the modernization of systems for training highly qualified specialists.

It should be emphasized that geopolitical stability, economic prosperity, and sustainable development in Central Asia are directly dependent upon the quality of good-neighborly relations among the countries of the region. Since 2016, the incorporation of the principle of "Good Neighbourliness as a Foreign Policy Priority" into the foreign policy doctrine of the Republic of Uzbekistan has elevated cooperation with neighboring brotherly states to an entirely new strategic level.

For centuries, the peoples of Central Asia have been united by a common history, shared cultural heritage, religious traditions, and spiritual values. Today, in the era of globalization and the digital economy, these nations are advancing regional integration to a qualitatively new stage. The principal driving force behind this transformation is intellectual capital, embodied primarily in cooperation in the fields of higher education, science, and innovation.

Prior to 2016, relations among neighboring countries experienced a period of relative stagnation, with numerous long-standing issues remaining unresolved. However, thanks to the far-sighted foreign policy, effective diplomacy, and strategic leadership of the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan, historical barriers were overcome, opening a new chapter in regional cooperation. This breakthrough created a stable foundation for the significant expansion of educational, scientific, and cultural exchanges throughout Central Asia.

A compelling example of this transformation can be found in the rapidly developing partnership between Uzbekistan and the Kyrgyz Republic. The declarations on strategic partnership, friendship, and good-neighborly relations, together with numerous intergovernmental agreements signed during official visits of the two countries' leaders, have established a comprehensive legal framework comprising more than 200 bilateral legal and regulatory instruments.

Whereas bilateral trade amounted to only USD 150–200 million in 2016, by 2025–2026 it had exceeded USD 1 billion, reflecting the remarkable intensification of economic cooperation. The establishment of the Uzbekistan–Kyrgyzstan Development Fund has enabled the financing of dozens of industrial, logistics, and agricultural projects. Assembly plants producing automobiles under Uzbek brands have been launched in Kyrgyzstan, while joint ventures in textile manufacturing and the production of construction materials have also been established.

Furthermore, the commencement of the active construction phase of the China–Kyrgyzstan–Uzbekistan Railway is expected to fundamentally reshape the transport and logistics architecture of the entire Central Asian region, creating new opportunities for regional connectivity and economic integration.

During the same period, cooperation between the Ministry of Higher Education, Science and Innovation of the Republic of Uzbekistan and the Ministry of Education and Science of the Kyrgyz Republic underwent profound transformation. Since 2016, universities of the two countries have significantly expanded direct institutional cooperation, resulting in numerous bilateral academic initiatives.

Among the most significant achievements has been the establishment of the Forum of Rectors of Higher Education Institutions of Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan, which has evolved into one of the principal platforms for strengthening academic cooperation, promoting joint research, and expanding university partnerships between the two countries.

Over the past several years, Uzbekistan’s higher education system has evolved into one of the principal drivers of regional integration and is increasingly emerging as a leading educational and scientific hub of Central Asia.

Today, 3,020 students from the countries of Central Asia are enrolled in higher education institutions across Uzbekistan, reflecting the growing confidence of neighboring nations in the quality and international competitiveness of Uzbek higher education. This student community includes 1,554 citizens of Turkmenistan, 646 from Kazakhstan, 436 from Tajikistan, and 384 from Kyrgyzstan. Beyond acquiring professional knowledge and competencies, these students contribute to the formation of a common educational space through the exchange of academic, cultural, and intellectual experiences.

In order to provide practical support for regional integration, the Government of the Republic of Uzbekistan has introduced a system of state-funded scholarships for citizens of Central Asian countries. Under this initiative, 20 fully funded scholarships are allocated annually to each neighboring state, enabling talented young people to pursue higher education in Uzbekistan.

This initiative has become one of the most effective instruments of educational diplomacy, strengthening mutual trust, expanding people-to-people contacts, and fostering long-term humanitarian cooperation throughout the region.

A notable example of deepening academic integration is the establishment of the branch campus of Mukhtar Auezov South Kazakhstan University in the city of Chirchiq. During the initial stage of its operation alone, the branch enrolled 350 students, demonstrating the growing demand for cross-border educational opportunities.

As a reciprocal step toward strengthening bilateral cooperation, the National Research University “Tashkent Institute of Irrigation and Agricultural Mechanization Engineers” established its branch at the Kazakh National Agrarian Research University in Almaty. The branch currently educates 16 students in the fields of transboundary water resources management and agricultural innovation, drawing upon Uzbekistan's scientific schools, educational methodologies, and technological expertise.

Language and cultural cooperation has also become an important dimension of regional integration. Centers of Uzbek language and culture have been restored and expanded at higher education institutions in Osh and Jalal-Abad, while departments of Kyrgyz language and literature have resumed and broadened their activities at universities in Tashkent and Andijan.

These initiatives not only promote linguistic and cultural exchange but also contribute to strengthening mutual understanding, preserving shared historical heritage, and educating younger generations in the spirit of friendship, tolerance, and good-neighborly relations.

The expansion of academic cooperation has demonstrated that universities today perform a role far beyond their traditional educational mission. They increasingly serve as platforms for scientific diplomacy, intercultural dialogue, and regional cooperation, making a substantial contribution to sustainable development and long-term stability across Central Asia.

The powerful momentum of educational integration that has emerged across Central Asia has gradually expanded beyond the region, reaching the South Caucasus and, in particular, the Republic of Azerbaijan. Contemporary Uzbek–Azerbaijani cooperation in higher education, science, and culture stands as a vivid example of the growing strategic partnership between the two fraternal nations.

At present, 44 new bilateral agreements and memoranda of cooperation between higher education institutions of Uzbekistan and Azerbaijan have been prepared for implementation, laying a solid foundation for the further expansion of academic and scientific collaboration.

Currently, 51 Azerbaijani students are pursuing higher education in Uzbekistan, while 31 Uzbek students are enrolled at leading universities in Baku and Ganja. Although these figures may appear modest, they reflect the emergence of sustainable mechanisms for academic exchange and increasing educational mobility between the two countries.

Academic mobility has become one of the defining features of bilateral cooperation. In 2024, five students from Tashkent State Pedagogical University completed a period of study at Azerbaijan State Pedagogical University and Baku Slavic University, gaining valuable exposure to Azerbaijan's educational system, teaching methodologies, and academic environment.

During the same year, 15 students representing Termez State University, universities in Tashkent, and higher education institutions specializing in arts and culture participated in scientific conferences and international academic forums held in Azerbaijan, thereby strengthening scholarly communication and expanding professional networks between young researchers.

Reciprocal academic exchanges have also intensified. Eleven Azerbaijani professors and scholars visited Uzbekistan, delivering lectures in philology, psychology, and management for students and academic staff of Uzbek universities. These visits have significantly contributed to strengthening scientific dialogue and promoting the exchange of academic expertise.

A particularly promising area of cooperation is the joint initiative between the Tashkent Institute of Chemical Technology and the Baku Higher Oil School to develop innovative joint degree programmes in Petroleum Engineering and Chemical Engineering. The project is expected to combine the scientific and technological capacities of both countries while preparing highly qualified professionals capable of meeting the demands of modern industry and the global energy sector.

Cooperation between the Alisher Navoi Tashkent State University of Uzbek Language and Literature and the National Academy of Sciences of Azerbaijan has likewise continued to develop dynamically. Their partnership encompasses joint research projects, scholarly publications, academic conferences, and collaborative initiatives in the humanities, linguistics, and literary studies.

Humanitarian cooperation has also acquired a strong institutional dimension. Since 2019, the Muhammad Fuzuli Azerbaijani Center for Culture, Education and Research in Tashkent has become an important intellectual platform for students, researchers, and academics interested in Azerbaijani language, literature, history, and culture.

Similarly, the Alisher Navoi Research Center, established within the Nizami Ganjavi Institute of Literature of the National Academy of Sciences of Azerbaijan, has become a significant venue for collaborative research on Turkic literature, comparative philology, and shared cultural heritage.

Regular literary evenings dedicated to the works of Alisher Navoi and Muhammad Fuzuli have further strengthened cultural dialogue, inspiring young people in both countries to explore the rich literary traditions of the Turkic world and reinforcing a shared sense of historical and cultural identity.

These initiatives demonstrate that educational cooperation between Uzbekistan and Azerbaijan has evolved beyond conventional academic exchange. It has become a strategic instrument of cultural diplomacy, scientific partnership, and intellectual integration, contributing to the long-term development of both countries and to broader regional cooperation.

Another significant dimension of Uzbek–Azerbaijani cooperation has been the establishment of specialized academic and cultural centers dedicated to the preservation and promotion of the shared intellectual heritage of the Turkic world.

The Kara Karayev Center, established at the Uzbekistan State Institute of Arts and Culture, introduces students to the rich musical legacy of the distinguished Azerbaijani composer while fostering professional cooperation in the field of performing arts.

Likewise, the Khurshidbanu Natavan Center, opened at Termez State University, has become a symbol of Uzbekistan's profound respect for Azerbaijani cultural heritage and a tangible manifestation of the growing humanitarian partnership between the two countries.

A landmark event took place on 13 September 2024, when a new Center for Uzbek Language and Culture was officially inaugurated in the city of Ganja. The center is expected to play an important role in promoting the Uzbek language, literature, history, and national traditions among Azerbaijani students and scholars while strengthening people-to-people ties between the two nations.

Collectively, these educational, scientific, and cultural initiatives have gradually evolved into one of the fundamental pillars of cooperation within the Organization of Turkic States (OTS), contributing to the formation of a common intellectual and educational space across the Turkic world.

Regular dialogue among the ministries responsible for education and science within the Organization of Turkic States has further accelerated this process. In particular, the visits of Emin Amrullayev, Minister of Science and Education of the Republic of Azerbaijan, to Tashkent, together with discussions involving Nagif Hamzayev, Member of the Milli Majlis of Azerbaijan, have elevated to the policy agenda the establishment of a comprehensive system for teaching the Uzbek language to international learners, modeled on Türkiye's internationally recognized TÖMER framework.

The implementation of such an initiative would substantially expand opportunities for foreign students to study the Uzbek language while simultaneously strengthening Uzbekistan's educational diplomacy and enhancing the country's cultural influence throughout the broader Turkic region. Beyond language instruction, the project could become an effective mechanism for promoting Uzbekistan's higher education system, national heritage, and academic potential on the international stage.

More importantly, the Turkic states are today becoming increasingly integrated not only in political and economic terms but also as a unified scientific and intellectual community. Shared historical memory, common cultural values, and mutual aspirations for innovation are gradually giving rise to a common educational ecosystem capable of generating new knowledge, technologies, and human capital.

Only a few years ago, the concept of a "common intellectual home" existed primarily as a strategic vision. Today, however, this vision is becoming a tangible reality within university classrooms, research laboratories, joint scientific projects, and international academic exchanges. Students, researchers, and faculty members have emerged as the principal architects of this transformation, strengthening academic cooperation through everyday collaboration and knowledge sharing.

The students who are currently studying in neighboring countries within an atmosphere of mutual trust, friendship, and respect will become tomorrow's scientists, engineers, policymakers, entrepreneurs, and innovators. They will jointly address such strategic challenges as regional economic security, transboundary water governance, environmental sustainability, food security, technological modernization, and scientific advancement.

From this perspective, educational integration in Central Asia should not be regarded merely as another dimension of humanitarian cooperation. Rather, it represents a long-term strategic investment in the formation of a single competitive intellectual space, capable of enhancing regional resilience, promoting sustainable development, and increasing the global competitiveness of Central Asia in the twenty-first century.

Ultimately, the future of regional integration will depend not only on infrastructure projects, trade agreements, or political dialogue, but also on the ability of the countries of Central Asia and the broader Turkic world to cultivate a new generation of highly educated, globally competitive professionals united by common values, shared responsibility, and a collective vision for regional prosperity. In this regard, cooperation in higher education, science, and innovation should be viewed as one of the most effective strategic instruments for ensuring lasting peace, stability, and sustainable development across the region.

Fazliddin MUMINOV,

Head of Department

Ministry of Higher Education, Science and Innovation

of the Republic of Uzbekistan

Sadullaev Qudrat Yusubbaevich
Chief Research Fellow of the Academy of Public Policy and Administration under the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan, Doctor of Law (DSc)

The contemporary system of international relations is being shaped by rapid geopolitical changes, growing fragmentation, disruptions in transport and supply chains, climate change, and increasing risks to food and energy security. Under these conditions, trust, dialogue and practical cooperation among states are becoming more important than ever. For Central and South Asia — two historically interconnected regions with significant yet not fully realized potential — connectivity has acquired not only economic, but also strategic, political and civilizational significance.

The initiative to strengthen connectivity between Central and South Asia, advanced by President of the Republic of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev, represents a timely response to this historical and geopolitical demand. Its core idea is that security cannot be ensured solely through military or political instruments. It must also be built through economic development, transport corridors, trade links, education, culture and human capital. In this sense, development is not merely a consequence of security; rather, it is one of its fundamental preconditions.

This approach gained institutional form in July 2021, when Tashkent hosted the high-level international conference “Central and South Asia: Regional Connectivity. Challenges and Opportunities” at the initiative of President Shavkat Mirziyoyev. The forum created an important political and expert platform for advancing interregional cooperation. Its international recognition was further demonstrated in 2022, when the United Nations General Assembly adopted the resolution “Strengthening Connectivity between Central and South Asia.” Initiated by the President of Uzbekistan and supported by more than 40 states, the resolution confirmed that Uzbekistan’s vision has significance not only at the national or regional level, but also for the wider international community.

The Termez Dialogue is a practical continuation of this diplomatic and intellectual process. Launched in May 2025, it has emerged as a permanent platform aimed at creating a stable, systematic and practice-oriented environment for cooperation between Central and South Asia. Its first meeting attracted considerable attention from the international expert community due to its broad participation, multilateral format and applied focus. The growing interest in this initiative was also reflected in the organization of a separate session on the Termez Dialogue during the Doha Forum in December 2025.

The second meeting of the Termez Dialogue, scheduled for 4–6 June 2026 in Tashkent, Termez and Samarkand, is expected to mark a new stage in the development of this platform. The main emphasis will shift from general conceptual discussions to the identification of specific priorities and practical mechanisms. In other words, the Dialogue is intended not only to exchange views, but also to generate concrete outcomes in political dialogue, economic connectivity, transport and logistics, climate adaptation, and cultural-humanitarian cooperation.

One of the key features of the Termez Dialogue is that it reflects Uzbekistan’s proactive, pragmatic and open foreign policy. Uzbekistan does not position itself as a state forced to choose between competing blocs, but rather as a reliable platform for dialogue among different regions, markets and civilizations. In this regard, the Termez Dialogue forms part of a broader system of initiatives, including the Fergana Peace Forum, the Samarkand Climate Forum, the Samarkand Solidarity Initiative, and proposals within the Shanghai Cooperation Organization on good-neighbourliness, trust and cross-border partnership.

Transport and logistics remain among the most important dimensions of connectivity between Central and South Asia. The countries of Central Asia are landlocked and therefore face structural limitations in accessing global markets. Diversifying transport routes, reducing logistics costs and facilitating access to external markets are essential for the region’s long-term economic development. According to available estimates, the level of transport connectivity of Central Asian states with external markets is around 60 per cent, while in the European Union and ASEAN countries it exceeds 95 per cent. In some cases, transport costs in Central Asia may reach up to 50 per cent of the final value of goods, which is several times higher than the global average.

In this context, the Trans-Afghan Corridor has strategic importance. It can provide Central Asian states with the shortest access to the ports of the Indian Ocean and link South Asia with the markets of Central Asia, Russia, China and Europe. This project is not limited to railway construction or transport infrastructure. It is also an instrument of regional economic integration, Afghanistan’s involvement in peaceful development processes, and the formation of a new trade architecture in Eurasia. Through this approach, Uzbekistan seeks to transform its geographical constraints into logistical advantages.

Afghanistan occupies a special place in this process. It is a natural land bridge connecting Central and South Asia. Uzbekistan’s policy toward Afghanistan is consistent and practical. Since 2021, Uzbekistan has sent 15 humanitarian convoys to Afghanistan, delivering more than 13,000 tons of humanitarian assistance. At the same time, bilateral trade and economic relations have been developing dynamically. In 2025, trade turnover between Uzbekistan and Afghanistan reached 1.7 billion US dollars, which is 55 per cent higher than the previous year. These figures demonstrate that Uzbekistan views Afghanistan not as a source of problems, but as an important participant in regional development and stability.

The choice of Termez as one of the central locations of this initiative is also highly symbolic. Historically, Termez has been a meeting point of trade, culture, science and religious traditions between Central and South Asia. The city played an important role in the history of Bactria, the Kushan Empire, the Great Silk Road and wider civilizational exchange. Today, Termez is becoming Uzbekistan’s southern gateway and a modern centre of practical cooperation with Afghanistan and South Asia.

There are concrete examples of this transformation. The Termez International Trade Centre, opened on 29 August 2024, covers 36 hectares and is located only 500 metres from the border with Afghanistan. A 15-day visa-free regime has been introduced within the centre. Its infrastructure includes more than 3,000 shops, customs facilities, banking services, public service centres and export-oriented platforms. The annual export potential of products represented in the trade zone is estimated at 1.2 billion US dollars. More than 1,000 local residents and about 140 Afghan citizens are employed there. This shows that connectivity is not an abstract political slogan, but a practical reality linked to jobs, exports, services and human livelihoods.

Another important example is the Termez Cargo Centre, an international transport and logistics hub operating since 2016. Located near the intersection of Afghanistan, Tajikistan and Turkmenistan, the centre has been used since 2021 by the United Nations World Food Programme and the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees for delivering humanitarian cargo to Afghanistan. Thus, Termez is becoming not only a trade and logistics hub, but also an important point of humanitarian diplomacy.

The Educational Centre for Afghan Citizens, established in Termez in 2018, also reflects Uzbekistan’s long-term investment in human capital. The centre provides education for Afghan youth in 17 higher education fields and 16 vocational and secondary-specialized areas. Since its establishment, more than 800 Afghan citizens have studied there, including 200 girls and women. These figures demonstrate the importance of education and professional training in stabilizing Afghanistan. Peace is strengthened not only through political agreements, but also through an educated, skilled and socially active generation.

Another important dimension of the Termez Dialogue is climate and environmental sustainability. Central and South Asia are among the regions most affected by the consequences of climate change. Water scarcity, desertification, soil degradation, air pollution, glacier melting and natural disasters are not only national challenges, but also transboundary problems. Therefore, climate adaptation, rational use of water resources, early warning systems and the exchange of digital hydrological data should become integral components of cooperation between the two regions.

Uzbekistan is taking an active role in this field as well. The Samarkand Climate Forum, regional climate summits, the Green Agenda, the regional strategy for climate adaptation and environmental protection programmes are important steps in this direction. These initiatives show that Central Asia is no longer merely a region affected by environmental problems; it is increasingly becoming an active regional actor proposing practical solutions.

Cultural and humanitarian cooperation forms one of the deepest foundations of interregional connectivity. The peoples of Central and South Asia have been linked for centuries through shared history, trade routes, science, culture and spirituality. Today, the demographic potential of the two regions also creates major opportunities: more than 60 per cent of the population is under the age of 30. This opens broad prospects for cooperation in education, science, academic exchange, innovation and human capital development.

From this perspective, the Termez Dialogue is not only a meeting of diplomats and experts. It should also serve as a platform that opens new opportunities for young people, scholars, entrepreneurs, educational institutions, cultural actors and civil society representatives. Economic projects require trust, and trust requires closer ties, mutual understanding and cultural dialogue among peoples.

The planned visit to Samarkand also carries deep symbolic meaning. For centuries, Samarkand served as a centre of science, trade and diplomacy connecting East and West, Central and South Asia, the Middle East and Europe. The “Spirit of Samarkand” reflects openness, tolerance, dialogue and a commitment to shared development. In the diplomacy of President Shavkat Mirziyoyev, Samarkand has become a platform that connects Uzbekistan’s historical legacy with modern international initiatives.

In conclusion, the Termez Dialogue is not an ordinary international event aimed only at bringing Central and South Asia closer together. It is a strategic platform that reflects Uzbekistan’s new foreign policy thinking, regional responsibility and global initiative. Its foundation rests on three interconnected principles: trust through dialogue, cooperation through dialogue, and shared development through cooperation.

The international community is increasingly recognizing Uzbekistan’s efforts in this direction. The adoption of the UN General Assembly resolution, the support of more than 40 states, and the growing interest of international organizations, experts and regional partners in the Termez Dialogue clearly demonstrate this trend. Through this platform, Uzbekistan is building a new bridge of trust between Central and South Asia — a bridge strengthened by trade routes, railways, educational programmes, cultural ties and humanitarian initiatives.

Therefore, the Termez Dialogue should be viewed as an emerging architecture of interregional cooperation. It contributes to the formation of Central and South Asia not merely as neighbouring geographic spaces, but as a macro-region united by common interests, shared security and a common future. In this process, Uzbekistan acts as an initiator, organizer and reliable bridge between the two regions.

It is not an exaggeration to say that in the historical conditions where humanity is going through a difficult period, where contradictions and conflicts are intensifying and seriously undermining stability, in the multi-ethnic New Uzbekistan, human dignity and the interests of the people are recognized as the highest values, and in this regard, it is becoming an example and model for many countries of the world.

Because sustainable development can be achieved first of all by valuing and honoring people, creating conditions for the population to live well today, and realizing the high trust and responsibility of the population for the future.

Abdulla Awlani, the famous modern enlightener, defined man in such a way: “...the purpose of the creation of the universe is man. Man is the glory and honor of all existence. All creation must serve man: man is its master. Because man has a mind. He acquires knowledge with the help of this mind, and rules the world thanks to his knowledge”.

Therefore, measures aimed at the development of citizen's activity and participation in state management are being systematically implemented in Uzbekistan today, with comprehensive support for human rights and interests.

In recent years, the reforms implemented in Uzbekistan and the active participation and involvement of citizens in the state administration have been observed, which is especially important in the adoption of documents that will be the criteria for the future fate of our country.

In particular, in 2023, the "people's constitution" adopted for the first time in the history of Uzbekistan on the basis of the will of the people is a program for creating the foundation of the country's future destiny and happy future. More than 220,000 proposals have been received from different layers of the population, and this is also an example of the people's interest in state management and fate.

For this reason, first of all, the proposals received from the population, as well as the experiences and norms of constitution – making of 190 countries were thoroughly studied, and the articles of the updated constitution increased from 128 to 155, and the number of norms increased from 275 to 434.

In a situation where modern threats and problems are becoming increasingly rooted, the issues of ensuring a stable economy, effective governance, a safe state and social guarantees in Uzbekistan in the future have been deeply analyzed, 65% of the basic law has been updated based on people's proposals, and new norms based on national and universal values ​​and modern opportunities have been introduced.

In the words of the President of Uzbekistan, "Our Basic Law, which is literally a public dictionary, serves as a strong legal guarantee that our large-scale reforms aimed at establishing New Uzbekistan will not go back."

Another proof of the active participation of citizens in the sphere of public administration in Uzbekistan is the launch of the portal for the discussion of projects of regulatory legal documents (https://regulation.gov.uz/) to receive proposals from citizens for drafts of state programs, laws and legal documents. During the year, 77,731 proposals were received from the population for 25,283 draft documents.

Another important point is that in recent years, the share of women in state management in Uzbekistan has increased from 27% to 35%. In particular, 32% of the deputies of the Legislative Chamber of the country's parliament (Supreme Assembly) and 25% of the members of the Senate are women. The number of businesswomen doubled, and the number of women who started their own business exceeded 205,000.

It is of particular importance that Uzbekistan is listed among the 5 fastest developing countries in the world in the field of gender equality in the World Bank index, and is among the top 20 countries in the open gender data index.

First of all, the conceptual basis of the reforms was created in Uzbekistan, and a number of strategic decisions were made for its systematic operation.

In order to further increase the effectiveness of the ongoing reforms, create conditions for comprehensive and rapid development of the state and society, implement priority directions for modernization of our country and liberalization of all spheres of life, the Strategy of Actions on five priority directions for the development of the Republic of Uzbekistan in 2017-2021 is consistently implemented increased.

Strategy 5 – Improvement of the system of state and community building, ensuring the rule of law and further reforming the judicial system, developing and liberalizing the economy, developing the social sphere and ensuring security, inter-ethnic harmony and religious tolerance, as well as a well-thought-out, mutually beneficial and practical foreign policy reforms worthy of universal recognition took place in the field of priority directions.

The economic growth in the country alone was ensured to grow by 4.4% in 2017, 5.4% in 2018, and 5.7% in 2019.

On September 11, 2023, the "Uzbekistan-2030" strategy was adopted based on the experience gained during the implementation of the development strategy of New Uzbekistan and the discussions of the general public, and the strategic tasks that we must achieve in the next 7 years were defined. The importance of this strategy, consisting of 100 points, is that in this document, specific goals and targets are set, which are expected to be achieved in all areas, and the reforms continue consistently.

The important thing is that this document sets the future priority goals, in particular, to use all the possibilities to increase the size of the country's gross domestic product from the current 80 billion dollars to 160 billion dollars, thereby doubling the size of the economy by 2030 and "countries with an income above the average". Bold steps are being taken to enter the ranks.
          In Uzbekistan, great attention is being paid to this area, which is directly related to the quality of life. In the last 7 years, the amount of funds allocated to the healthcare system has increased from 5.9 trillion soums to 33.5 trillion soums, that is, it has increased 6 times. Hospitals are equipped with modern equipment and new ones are being built.

In Uzbekistan, systematic measures are being taken to provide social support to the population, to identify the root causes of the problems of each of its strata, and to provide targeted assistance, especially to reduce poverty.

"Temir daftar" (Iron book), "Ayollar daftari" (Women`s book), "Yoshlar Daftar" (Youth book), "Mahallababay" (Neighbourhood) and "Khonadonbay" (House work) work methods are being introduced for this purpose. On this basis, not abstract indicators of the problem, but the problems of every family and citizen, women, and youth who need help and support are clearly studied on the spot, and they are solved in a timely and effective manner.

Today, the noble traditions of supporting the elderly, disabled people, people in a difficult situation, and showing them love and kindness are being enriched and improved with new meaning and practical actions. In this regard, programs such as "Prosperous village", "Prosperous neighborhood", "Five important initiatives", "Every family is an entrepreneur", and "Youth are our future" are giving positive results.

At this point, it should be noted that since 2017 Virtual and Public receptions of the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan have been established. In 2017-2021, the President's virtual lobby and People's lobby received 5 million. More than 780,000 appeals were considered, of which 3 mln. More than 288 thousand were satisfied. As a result of complete, timely and legal investigation of appeals, the level of their satisfaction is also increasing year by year. In particular, this indicator was 47.5 percent in 2017, 53.9 percent in 2018, 60.9 percent in 2019, 60.4 percent in 2020, and 86.7 percent in 2021.

Another consideration is that in recent years, the intensity and scope of the globalization process has increased in the intellectual world in the complex conditions where the struggle for the hearts and minds of the young generation is intensifying, the role and importance of education in the spirit of patriotism is increasing more and more, and the need to educate our youth as true patriots is growing stronger than ever. In the world, the number and scale of ideological struggles and conflicts are increasing, and new threats are emerging that cannot be predicted in advance.

In such a situation, education of young people in the spirit of loyalty to the Motherland, national identity and values, and concern for national interests is gaining urgent importance.

When one of the scholars said that "the happiness of every nation, the peace and happiness of the states depends on the good education of the youth", there are many real truths.

Based on the opinion of the head of Uzbekistan in his speech at the extended session of the Council of Spirituality and Enlightenment of the Republic that "it is natural that the legacy of our enlightened ancestors serves as a foundation for the legal democratic state and civil society that we are building today", it is clear as day that the development of national spirituality should be one step ahead.

In this regard, specific measures have been defined in 9 directions in the country, in particular, spirituality should be ten steps ahead of other fields, popularization of the heritage of the ancients, addition of an additional "Spiritual sector" to 4 sectors, enrichment of the activities and contents of theaters, cultural centers, priority issues such as the development of Uzbek cultural diplomacy, film, visual and applied arts in the international arena are among these.

The concept of the President of Uzbekistan, "If the economy is the body of society's life, then its soul is spirituality" has already become a vital principle for all of us. Strong spirituality based on the rich heritage of our ancestors and national values ​​serves as a strong pillar for the country that decided to build the new Uzbekistan.

In recent years, "Man-Society-State" has become an irrevocable strategic principle in Uzbekistan, fundamental reforms have been carried out to pay attention to people and protect their rights and interests.

         It is necessary to recognize one fact: reforms in accordance with international standards are being implemented in all areas related to people and their activities. At the same time, the critical analysis of our activities by the head of the country, using the existing freedom of speech, encourages us to constantly examine ourselves and improve our measures regularly in order to reach new goals in the future.

For example, more than 2,200,000 families are in need of social assistance, among them there are many young people. In this regard, specific measures have been determined this year, and in the updated Constitution, the state's social obligations have been tripled, and an additional 30-40 trillion soums will be allocated annually from the state budget.

The principle of "man-society-state" is of particular importance for the future development of our country, and constitutional guarantees have been strengthened in this regard.

The international community of Uzbekistan is paying special attention to strengthening friendly relations with neighboring countries on the basis of cooperation, mutual support, peace and harmony, and the legal basis for further deepening of the reforms implemented in foreign policy in recent years is also being strengthened.

For example, due to the resolution of the 30-year-old border problem with neighboring Kyrgyzstan, more than 2 million inhabitants of the valley were able to move freely with their relatives and friends.

The directions of strengthening peace and stability of Uzbekistan in our region, expanding the potential of our country in the international arena and developing comprehensive and mutually beneficial relations with foreign countries are confirmed in the "Concept of Foreign Political Activities" approved by law.

Today, Uzbekistan has established diplomatic relations with 131 countries of the world, we have 37 embassies in 38 countries, consulates in 17 cities, permanent representative offices in the UN and other international organizations.

In a word, as the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan, Shavkat Mirziyoyev, said, "From now on, we will focus on strengthening multifaceted and mutually beneficial cooperation with all the neighboring countries in Central Asia and the countries and international organizations that are our strategic partners in the world."

Ensuring decent life of citizens in Uzbekistan, inter-ethnic and inter-confessional harmony, well-being and prosperity of our multi-ethnic country of Uzbekistan is also one of the most important directions.

In order to support our compatriots in many countries of the world and further strengthen our relations with them, the "Compatriots" fund was established.

Our work aimed at strengthening the environment of inter-ethnic harmony and tolerance in our society is reaching a new level in terms of quality. July 30, which is widely celebrated as the International Friendship Day, has been announced as the "International Friendship Day" in Uzbekistan. This year, this holiday was widely celebrated for the first time in our country. It can also be considered as a common phenomenon where internal and external political factors converge.

It will be necessary to mobilize all our strength and capabilities to further strengthen the atmosphere of inter-civilian harmony, inter-ethnic friendship and tolerance.

The future strategic tasks in the foreign policy have already been defined, which will serve as a consistent continuation of the actions in the field of foreign policy and economic diplomacy.

In this regard, first of all, it is necessary to further strengthen close friendship, good neighborliness and strategic partnership relations with the countries of the region, to expand mutually beneficial and multilateral relations with the countries of the far and near countries of the world, especially to continue providing assistance to the Afghan people to restore a peaceful and peaceful life in neighboring Afghanistan. It is appropriate to carry out priority tasks such as the implementation of large transport and communication projects together with the country at a qualitative level. In this regard, it is time to raise multilateral relations with international regional organizations and financial institutions to a new level.

In a word, the so-called New Uzbekistan is boldly marching towards sustainable development with systematic reforms, hard work and the will of the creative people. Systematic reforms implemented today in our country, which realizes its high responsibility to present and future generations to build a humane democratic state, an open and fair society, where human life, freedom, honor and dignity are considered the highest value, are a thing of the ages.

Khudoyberdi Khaknazarov

Doctor of History