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.

Experts often use the Latin phrase “si vis pacem, para bellum”, which translates as “if you want peace, prepare for war”. They emphasis that only force can guarantee peace.

The processes observed in Central Asia in recent years suggest the opposite. Against the backdrop of geopolitical turbulence, countries in the region regularly pursue policies based primarily on the principles of dialogue and good neighborliness.

In a short period of time, the face of the region has changed dramatically, common points of growth are forming, and mutual trust is becoming an important condition for stability. Common triggers for development are being identified: the formation of a common economic space, active attraction of investment, and the strengthening of cultural and humanitarian ties. A spirit of unity and solidarity has formed in the region.

As Uzbekistan's leader Shavkat Mirziyoyev noted at the 80th session of the UN General Assembly, “Today, Central Asia is different - it is united and strong, open to dialogue and full-scale partnership”.

The political transformation of the region is underpinned by steady economic growth, demonstrating the region's growing power. In particular, over the last 10  years, Central Asia's GDP has grown by more than 6% annually — twice as fast as the global average.

Due to political will and joint efforts of the leaders of the states, significant results have been achieved in resolving border issues. An important milestone on this path was the trilateral meeting of the presidents of Uzbekistan, Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan, held on 31 March 2025 in Khujand.

As a result, an agreement was signed on the junction point of the state borders of the three countries, which is clear evidence that the governments of our states place peace and harmony above all else.

All this confirms the idea that peace can only be achieved through mutual understanding, support and cooperation, which are the basis of friendly relations. We are guided by the principle: “If you want peace, be friends with your neighbors” This approach reflects the essence of the integration processes taking place in the region and certainly deserves the attention of the international community as a “exemplary model” for resolving even the most complex conflicts of our time.

How has humanity understood the world over the centuries?

Throughout human history, peace has been regarded as one of the highest spiritual and social values. Even in ancient times, thinkers in Ancient Greece sought to understand the phenomenon of Eirene – a state of harmony, the cessation of hostility and stable order in society.

In Eastern philosophical thought, the concept of peace also occupied a special place. It was understood, first and foremost, as the inner harmony of a person with themselves and the surrounding world, as a path to spiritual balance and moral perfection.

The great thinkers of Central Asia continued to develop the idea of peace, giving it philosophical and humanistic content. Thus, Abu Nasr Farabi regarded peace and harmony as an indispensable condition for the existence of a “Virtuous City”, where justice, reason, and mutual understanding between people become the basis of social well-being. Alisher Navoi, in his poetic works, presented peace as the highest form of spiritual and moral perfection of man, the basis of creation and mutual respect between peoples.

Thus, over the centuries, the idea of peace has evolved from an understanding of it as the absence of war to an awareness of spiritual and moral harmony between people and nations.

Why was Fergana chosen as the venue for the Forum?

The choice of Fergana as the venue for the forum is no coincidence.

The Fergana Valley is a unique geographical area where peoples speaking different languages and practicing different religions have coexisted peacefully for centuries. The Great Silk Road passed through the valley, and its inhabitants were engaged in crafts, trade and science, always striving for mutual understanding and dialogue. Conflict is a foreign concept to the region.

Today, the Fergana Valley unites the territories of three independent states, whose relations are based on the principles of good neighborliness, mutual respect, sovereignty and territorial integrity.

The Fergana Valley is the most populous region in Central Asia. According to data, the Andijan, Namangan and Fergana regions of Uzbekistan alone are home to about 11 million people, which is almost a third of the country's population. If we take into account the population of the territories of neighboring states that are geographically part of the region, the total figure is about 17 million.

With this in mind, the countries of Central Asia are striving to deepen regional integration, viewing it as an important condition for sustainable development. Strengthening mutual trust and partnership is becoming one of the key areas of their foreign policy. To discuss specific steps and exchange experiences, platforms are needed that promote open dialogue and coordination of positions.

One such platform will be the Fergana Peace Forum, which will be held on 15–16 October at Fergana State University. It will be attended by representatives of government agencies and business circles of Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan, experts from scientific, analytical and research centers, as well as delegates from the CIS, SCO, OSCE, UNDP, EU and other international organizations.

In addition, the Fergana Valley is a multinational region where representatives of all peoples and ethnic groups live in peace and harmony.

In this regard, the attention that the government pays to strengthening interethnic friendship and creating conditions for all citizens to receive education in their native language and study their national culture is of great importance.

Today, there are more than 250 schools in the Fergana, Namangan and Andijan regions where instruction is conducted in Kyrgyz, Russian and Tajik.

It is important to emphasize the important role of regional branches of national cultural centers, which are involved in ensuring inter-ethnic harmony, developing intercultural dialogue and tolerance, and strengthening good-neighborly relations with neighboring states.

Various activities are carried out in this area by 17 national cultural centers (8 in Fergana, 5 in Andijan and 4 in Namangan regions), including Russian, Slavic, Korean, Jewish, German, Tatar, Kyrgyz, Uyghur, Tajik and Turkish.

Special mention should be made of the activities of public associations, foundations and NGOs implementing socially significant projects, both with funding from domestic donors and with the support of international organizations and foreign partners such as the World Bank, UNDP, the United Nations Population Fund, the UN Women, the European Union, the International Organization for Migration, Saferworld, DVV International, Fair and Sustainable Development Solutions, DIA International and others.

The implementation of such projects contributes to ensuring access to social protection, developing entrepreneurial skills, increasing the participation of women and young people in public affairs, and strengthening mutual understanding and friendship between residents of border areas.

Overall, the first Fergana Peace Forum opens a new page in the development of good neighborly relations and partnership between the countries of the region.

In this case, the choice of the Fergana Valley as the venue reflects its historical role as a space for mutual understanding and harmony. Undoubtedly, this forum will provide an additional stimulus for further strengthening stability and expanding cooperation in Central Asia.

Abror Yusupov,

PhD in Political Science,

Associate Professor,

Deputy Director of the

Center for Analysis of Democratic Processes

We are the luckiest children of our people. We are fortunate to see the days dreamed of by our Jadid ancestors and to build the future they desired. During the events of the seventh Consultative Meeting of the Heads of State of Central Asia, I was once again convinced of this.

         In recent years, Central Asia has acquired a new image on the world political map. Today, it is recognized that the countries of the region are not competitors, but reliable partners moving together on the path of development and cooperation. Consequently, other regions and powerful states are seeking to engage with us, envisioning a future in harmony with the spirit of Central Asia. This is not without reason. Because in the international arena, various conflicts and the pursuit of solely material interests have intensified. In such a situation, thanks to the political will and wise decisions of our President, a completely new policy, inherent to our people—one of openness and magnanimity—has gained priority in our region. All Central Asians rejoice in this. Why? Because our peoples have lived as neighbors, in-laws, sharing joys and sorrows as one nation.

         In awakening the spirit of Central Asia, our President first took the path of bringing our peoples closer together. We wisely used the power of literature and art to elevate relations to a new stage. In particular, various events and festivals were organized among cultural representatives of our countries. As part of state visits, performances by art and culture representatives and grand concerts have become commonplace.

         Our President has turned the gifting of books to his colleagues into a tradition. At the time, we understood this only within the framework of cultural ties. Time itself shows that the path chosen by our President is the way to reach the hearts of the people!

         After all, the peoples of Central Asia consider Khazrat Navoi their ancestor. Likewise, we also love Jami, Fuzuli, Makhtumkuli, and Abai just as we do Bobur or Alisher Navoi. We value the epic of Manas as if it were our own, and we read the works of Aitmatov more than anyone else. This alone indicates that our peoples have lived for centuries as close as flesh and nail. The leader of our state elevated such important aspects to the level of state policy. This opened a path to the hearts of our peoples. As a result, the seventh Consultative Meeting of the Heads of State of Central Asia was rich in historic events. Importantly, following its conclusion, very important decisions for the future of the region were adopted.

         In particular, a concept for regional security and stability in Central Asia was adopted. In today's global world, security is of paramount importance. In such a situation, one cannot develop in isolation. Where there is peace, there is also stability. That is why the new Central Asia is seen on the international stage as a peaceful and stable zone. Our region has not only natural resources and economic potential but also a sufficient level of human capital. At a time when mutual conflicts and economic blockades are intensifying in various parts of the world, it is also true that Central Asia's ability to maintain stability is seen as a lifeboat for others.

         Maintaining this stability and achieving economic growth by utilizing its opportunities is not easy. Anyone who closely observes the working regime of our President understands this correctly. Because the leader of our state works day and night to strengthen international ties. From the world podium, he is advancing not only national but also universal human interests. He calls for resolving any conflict and dispute through peaceful, diplomatic means.

         It is these calls, aspirations, and initiatives that have awakened the spirit of Central Asia today. The entire region has unanimously decided to safeguard security and stability together. As our President put it, we have deeply understood that our strength is in unity, and our path to success is in friendship and cooperation.

         In recent years, relations in the "Central Asia Plus" format have expanded. Our region is demonstrating a unified position on the international stage. At the same time, it is actively integrating into the world economy. Investment attractiveness is growing, export opportunities to third markets are expanding, and transit potential is increasing. For example, last year, the mutual trade volume between our countries reached 10.7 billion US dollars. The total volume of investments attracted to our region increased by 17 percent.

         Further enhancing economic relations and correctly assessing the rapidly changing, unpredictable geopolitical processes is an urgent task. In this sense, it is gratifying that at the Consultative Meeting, a catalog of threats to Central Asian security and measures to prevent them for 2026-2028 were outlined.

         The Consultative Meeting of the Heads of State of Central Asia was established on the initiative of our President. The leader of our state chaired its seventh meeting. During this period, our cooperation has been highly effective. To further enhance the potential of cooperation, over 20 major events were held. A forum for inter-regional cooperation at the level of deputy prime ministers was launched. Likewise, meetings of ministers were held for the first time. In particular, ministers of geology, industry, agriculture, ecology, and culture held meetings.

         Due to such aspects, we are right to say that a new era of the Consultative Meeting has begun. Just one example: now, member states will engage in separate, individual cooperation in each sector within the Consultative Meeting. We were convinced of this once again at the ministerial meetings.

         Within the framework of the international congress on "Central Asia: Common Spiritual and Educational Heritage – Common Future" at the Islamic Civilization Center, we held our first meeting with the culture ministers of Central Asia and Azerbaijan. Various issues of multilateral cooperation were discussed. We discussed issues of cooperation in various fields of culture and art. We exchanged views on the current state of regional cultural cooperation and future plans.

         Our peoples have one thing in common. That is, people listen more to elders, to individuals respected by the community. They follow them. Precisely this aspect is considered our unique strength, unlike other regions. Therefore, for the future, vital issues were raised about expanding cultural exchange among cultural figures. As a result, we reached agreements on expanding regional cultural cooperation.

         Mutual respect and magnanimity among peoples do not appear by themselves. It must be admitted that the human psyche has a strong tendency towards negative information. In today's global world, we see enough examples of this. Our President, deeply understanding this very aspect and analyzing it thoroughly, created the opportunity for cultural workers to strengthen such ties. I believe that cultural workers, and intellectuals in general, are responsible for further developing peace and mutual understanding in the region. It is precisely we who must prepare and present to our peoples the positive content that will lead to this. In this sense, we united around a common idea to hold joint events and festivals in the fields of art, literature, cinema, theater, and music. Such events remind us of ourselves once again. They sing the universal ideas, friendship, and magnanimity promoted by Navoi, Jami, Fuzuli and Makhtumkuli, Abai and Aitmatov, which are the cause for awakening the spirit of Central Asia today.

         The gratifying aspect is that we will also expand joint projects for the study, restoration, and digitization of cultural heritage. Furthermore, we will develop exchange programs among young creators. We reached an agreement on organizing seminars, conferences, and summer schools. We also exchanged views on strengthening cooperation in training and advanced training in the field of culture and art. Importantly, positive opinions were expressed on developing a "Central Asian Cultural Brand."

         Observing this process, the meetings and agreements at the level of state leaders, I felt that today Central Asia has truly become a single region, a unified force. Our peoples have gone through many trials to reach this day. We can see this in the example of our Jadid ancestors. Thankfully, the river that flows, flows on. Our ancestors always called the people of the world to enlightenment, friendship, and kindness. Today, we, as a single region, continue this eternal tradition. It is gratifying that the leader of our state is wisely using these values of ours not only for our country but also for the benefit of the whole world. This was clearly evident in the initiatives put forward by our President at the Consultative Meeting of the Heads of State of Central Asia.

         In particular, an initiative was put forward to establish an Council of Elders, comprising respected public figures with life experience and authority, based on the values and traditions of people's diplomacy. At the same time, it was emphasized that further improving cooperation mechanisms and the contractual-legal basis is of fundamental importance. Especially, the initiative to transform the Consultative Meeting into the strategic format of a "Central Asian Community" became the words in all our hearts.

         Because now Central Asia is not just a region, but is strengthening its place on the world political map as a single voice, a united force. That is why our President emphasized in his speech at the seventh Consultative Meeting of the Heads of State of Central Asia: "I am fully confident that today we are on the threshold of a period of historical awakening of our region as the New Central Asia."

         Precisely for this reason, developed countries are eager to cooperate with us. This is a great opportunity for the countries of the region. Using it wisely depends on our ability to protect our unity, friendship, and interests in a coordinated manner. In New Uzbekistan, it is recognized as a people-oriented policy precisely because such important aspects are always the focus of attention. The scale of countries wishing to cooperate with us confirms how sincere these recognitions are. There are two important reasons for the strong aspiration of developed countries towards New Uzbekistan. First, New Uzbekistan has become known as a state promoting the ideas of peace and humanity.

         Here, a vital truth must be stated. No matter how a person may appear in a hostile guise, they still strive to live for peace and friendship. Countries are the same. They may engage in various conflicts for their own interests. But deep down, they desire peace and prosperity. The foreign policy position of New Uzbekistan offers guarantees of this peace and friendship.

         The second important point is that thanks to the people-centered foreign policy, Central Asia has achieved unity. Now it is not seen as a field for labor or natural resources. Rather, it is seen as a new force with broad economic power in the international arena. During the Consultative Meeting, the leaders of the countries were at the Islamic Civilization Center. Our President emphasized that this center is a unique platform for creating scientific knowledge and ideas, conducting research, and popularizing our common cultural-historical heritage. Therefore, it is natural for the center to become a haven for the scientific and spiritual elevation of youth.

         We certainly have grounds for saying this with full confidence. At the Consultative Meeting, our President proposed to regularly organize the first International Congress dedicated to spiritual heritage and enlightenment ideas. According to it, the congress will be held annually in the country chairing the Consultative Meeting.

         All this shows that the countries of Central Asia are uniting not only because of economic or security issues, but because they are familiar with enlightenment. We know well that relationships built solely on material interests are fragile. In our region, however, live peoples with a single history, a common past. This is the reason for a unity that surpasses any material interests. That is why, at the meetings of state leaders, issues of culture and enlightenment always find a place on the agenda. This evokes boundless pride and honor in our hearts. At the same time, it also imposes the responsibility of being a generation worthy of such honorable days. For, at a time when the educational policy of New Uzbekistan is opening new horizons in Central Asia, being worthy of it is the duty and debt of every child of this land

The evolution of the Organization of Turkic States (OTS) has attracted particular attention from the international expert community, especially in the context of sustainable development, where Uzbekistan’s accession in 2019 became a catalyst for creating new opportunities for joint progress among Turkic countries.

Originally established on October 3, 2009, as the Cooperation Council of Turkic-Speaking States, the organization has undergone significant institutional evolution and was officially renamed the Organization of Turkic States at the 8th Summit in Istanbul on November 12, 2021. This decision reflected not only the deepening interaction among member states but also their shared aspiration to develop a collective approach to contemporary risks and challenges related to the sustainable development of the Turkic world—a role in which Uzbekistan soon assumed a prominent position.

Uzbekistan’s policy within the OTS has been primarily manifested in the economic sphere, where deeper integration has become not only a sign of growing mutual trust but also a practical foundation for jointly ensuring stability and sustainable development.

By 2024, mutual trade among OTS member states exceeded $45 billion, and the combined GDP of the five member states reached $1.9 trillion, demonstrating increasing economic interdependence. According to data from the Center for Economic Research and Reforms (CERR), Uzbekistan’s trade turnover with OTS countries grew from $3.34 billion in 2016 to $9.4 billion in 2023, reaching $10 billion by 2024—nearly triple the figure from seven years earlier.

This dynamic growth in economic ties has not only strengthened mutual interest among OTS countries in regional stability but also laid a solid foundation for a new approach to security—one actively promoted by Uzbekistan in its foreign policy.

An analysis of initiatives put forward by President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev at OTS summits confirms Tashkent’s consistent and systematic approach to strengthening regional security. In place of the traditional military-political dimension, Uzbekistan advocates a model in which security is understood as the outcome of sustainable development, interconnectedness, and long-term, structured cooperation.

This approach is embodied in the following strategic directions, covering key aspects of contemporary security:

First, Uzbekistan was among the first in the region to propose cooperation in responding to systemic threats. During the COVID-19 pandemic (April 2020), Tashkent proposed establishing a permanent mechanism for epidemiological surveillance, a coordination group under the OTS Secretariat, and partnership arrangements with the World Health Organization (WHO).

Following the earthquake in Türkiye (March 2023), Tashkent initiated the creation of an OTS platform for practical cooperation on disaster prevention and response, as well as the development of a multilateral agreement on risk reduction and the establishment of a Natural Disaster Monitoring Center in Tashkent.
All these measures aim at early warning, reducing vulnerability, and enhancing collective resilience—key elements of preventive security.

Second, Uzbekistan advances sustainable development through deeper economic interconnectivity.

In transport, Uzbekistan proposed joint use of the multimodal corridor “Tashkent–Karakalpakstan–Aktau–Baku–Tbilisi–Kars–Istanbul,” implementation of a “single window” system and “green corridors” along the Trans-Caspian route, and full digitalization of road transport through the eTIR system. In 2022, Uzbekistan and Azerbaijan became the first countries to successfully carry out a transport operation using electronic eTIR carnets.

In food security, Uzbekistan proposed developing a multilateral agreement on supply systems and cooperation with the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO).

In the environmental sphere, Tashkent proposed establishing a Turkic environmental protection body headquartered in the Aral Sea region, forming an Environmental Council, and adopting a “Turkic Green Energy Transition” concept.
All these initiatives create an infrastructure-economic foundation for security, reducing dependence on external shocks and strengthening regional autonomy.

Third, Tashkent’s key contribution lies in promoting the institutionalization of the OTS. At the Samarkand Summit (November 2022), Uzbekistan proposed creating dedicated ministerial-level committees on energy, IT, healthcare, and other sectors.

Later, Uzbekistan initiated hosting the headquarters of strategically important OTS bodies in Tashkent, including the Emergency Response Center, the Council of Railway Administrations, the Turkic Investment Bank, the Research Center for Human Capital Development, and the Academy of Space Research.

During Uzbekistan’s OTS Chairmanship (2022–2023), over 100 events were held, and new cooperation platforms were established, including the Organization of Trade Unions of Turkic States and the Institute for Drought Prevention.
These measures enhance joint preparedness and rapid response capabilities to contemporary challenges, strengthen trust among member states, and support sustainable development.

Fourth, alongside deepening cooperation in humanitarian, economic, and legal spheres, Uzbekistan consistently develops avenues of interaction related to coordinating responses to threats to regional stability.

For example, at the Shusha Summit in July 2024, Uzbekistan proposed formulating unified OTS approaches to the Afghan issue in light of the new regional realities. Such initiatives reflect Tashkent’s commitment to consolidating foreign policy positions and developing a coordinated strategy on the most sensitive issues of regional stability.

Thus, Uzbekistan’s initiatives within the OTS form a comprehensive, prevention-oriented model of sustainable development, in which humanitarian, economic, environmental, and political components are viewed as interdependent. Tashkent’s approach not only aligns with current trends in international relations but also creates conditions for strengthening the strategic autonomy of the Turkic world amid global fragmentation.

However, it should be noted that this model is not developed in isolation. On the contrary, it is organically complemented by the OTS’s external openness and its aspiration to integrate into the international architecture of relations through cooperation with key global and regional institutions. This helps avoid duplication, enhances the legitimacy of OTS initiatives, and aligns them with international standards.

In this process, Uzbekistan plays a significant role by consistently promoting synergy between the OTS and multilateral platforms, particularly in epidemiological, environmental, and humanitarian areas.

The OTS maintains especially close cooperation with the United Nations and its specialized agencies. Uzbekistan’s 2021 initiative to establish a Turkic environmental body under UN auspices, headquartered in the Aral Sea region, directly integrates regional efforts into the global environmental agenda.

Proposals for cooperation with the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) (2022) and collaboration with the World Health Organization (WHO) (2020) further demonstrate the desire to leverage the UN’s expertise and institutional capacity to implement homegrown security mechanisms.

Additionally, Tashkent initiated partnerships with the UN Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR) and the Global Facility for Disaster Reduction and Recovery (GFDRR) in the context of establishing the Natural Disaster Monitoring Center (2023), underscoring the OTS’s commitment to the principles of sustainable development and preventive security enshrined in the UN 2030 Agenda.

Simultaneously, the OTS is expanding its international presence: in 2024, the organization obtained observer status in the Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO), submitted similar applications to the UN and the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), and strengthened ties with the EU and OSCE through its European office in Budapest. At the Budapest Informal Summit (May 2025)—the first ever organized by an observer country—the Budapest Declaration was adopted, reaffirming the OTS’s commitment to combating terrorism, cyber threats, and organized crime.

This foreign policy orientation is also confirmed by assessments from international analytical circles.

According to an analytical report by the Global Security Research Center at the Geneva Centre for Security Policy (GCSP), the OTS demonstrates a unique model of regional cooperation that combines cultural identity with pragmatic measures to reduce vulnerability to transboundary threats. Experts from the “AIR Center” (Azerbaijan) note that for Central Asian countries and Azerbaijan, the OTS has become a strategic shield against external threats and a platform for asserting independence.

Thus, the OTS not only strengthens the collective resilience of its member states to external challenges but also creates a space for developing joint approaches to implementing projects aimed at the sustainable development of Turkic countries.

In this regard, Uzbekistan consistently promotes a comprehensive, prevention-oriented model for addressing risks and factors undermining sustainable development, in which traditional threats are complemented by non-traditional challenges—from pandemics and natural disasters to destructive ideologies. Particular emphasis is placed on building trust through humanitarian diplomacy, youth initiatives, cultural rapprochement, and institutional cooperation.

In the context of regional stability, Uzbekistan advocates for unified approaches to the Afghan issue, supports counter-terrorism and anti-organized crime efforts, and initiates mechanisms for collective crisis response.

The adoption of the Charter of Turkic Peace at the 11th OTS Summit in Bishkek, along with President Shavkat Mirziyoyev’s proposal at the same forum to sign a Treaty on Strategic Partnership, Eternal Friendship, and Brotherhood among Turkic States, became pivotal factors in shaping a long-term architecture of trust and shared responsibility.

Overall, Uzbekistan’s initiatives within the OTS represent a comprehensive strategy aimed at creating an alternative model for ensuring sustainable regional development, grounded in the cultural-historical commonality and economic interconnectedness of Turkic countries.

Alisher Kadyrov,

President Shavkat Mirziyoyev was reported the current work and plans for 2025 in automotive industry.

The share of automotive industry in the country's industry is 10 percent. Over the past ten months, 338 thousand passenger cars were produced. Components of 1.4 thousand types were localized. Thanks to economic measures, the cost price in the industry decreased by 4 percent. Exports amounted to $455 million.

The chairman of “Uzautosanoat” JSC presented information on plans and future tasks.

Next year it’s planned to manufacture 450 thousand cars and elevate exports to $700 million. It’s planned to strengthen cooperation with regional enterprises and boost localization. In particular, 63 projects worth $325 million on developing production of 700 components will be implemented. 

As is known, together with “BYD” company an automotive plant was built in Jizzakh. Currently such automobiles as Chazor and Song Plus Champion are produced there. In the upcoming years the model range is planned to be expanded. At the second stage worth $300 million it’s planned to expand the share of electric cars’ production to 200 thousand per year, at the third – to 500 thousand.

The Head of our state instructed to consistently master the production of components and spare parts for electric cars in agreement with the Chinese partners. 

The task was set to form orders for local enterprises based on cooperation.

In recent years, taking into account international standards and advanced foreign experience, ensuring the protection of the rights of convicts, respect for their honor and dignity, education of morality and conscientious work for further social adaptation in society upon release, a fundamental improvement of the penal enforcement legislation in the Republic of Uzbekistan has been carried out with the introduction of effective legal mechanisms.

Currently, there are a number of international conventions and provisions aimed at protecting the rights of convicts, which are regulated by the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. (1966), "Convention against torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment" (1984), "Declaration on the protection of all persons from torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment" (1975), "Standard minimum rules for the treatment of convicts (Nelson Mandela rules)" (2015), "UN rules for the protection of minor children deprived of liberty " (1990), "Basic principles of the treatment of convicts" (1990).

Based on the norms of these international documents developed and adopted by the international community on standards for the treatment of convicts, systematic work is underway in the country to humanize execution and reduce negative consequences during their execution, as well as strengthen the legislative, organizational and legal framework for the protection of human rights, the implementation of international human rights standards into national legislation and other important norms human life activities that have been accepted for implementation by the Republic of Uzbekistan as a subject of the above-mentioned and other international treaties.

It is important to note that "Standard minimum rules for the treatment of prisoners" of UN 1955 are generally recognized minimum standards for the detention of prisoners and have great importance and influence on the improvement of legislation, criminal law policy and the practice of penitentiary institutions around the world.

The revised text of these standard minimum rules of December 17, 2015 at the 70th session of the UN General Assembly № A/RES/70/175 was unanimously adopted in the form of a resolution. These Rules became known as the "Nelson Mandela rules" as a sign of respect for his memory after the death of the famous statesman, the President of South Africa, who outlined these rules based on the experience of spending a long part of his life in prison.

It is also necessary to pay attention to the fact that, following the visit to Uzbekistan of the Special Rapporteur of the UN Human Rights Council, the topic "Promotion and protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms in the fight against terrorism" recommendations were made to bring the legislation of the Republic of Uzbekistan into line with the minimum standard rules for the treatment of prisoners (Nelson Mandela rules), in order to improve the conditions of detention of convicts in penal institutions, to ensure the rights to freedom of religion, which formed the basis of the “Road maps”, developed in accordance with the National Action Plan of the Republic of Uzbekistan.

In order to ensure the fulfillment of these tasks, the conditions of detention of convicts in penal institutions of the Republic of Uzbekistan are considered on the basis of the requirements of the standard minimum rules for the treatment of prisoners (Mandela rules), which are gradually being implemented in accordance with these rules.

On the basis of international standards of the rights and duties of convicts, taking into account the best practices of foreign countries, the system of execution of punishments is being radically improved, the problems that have accumulated over the years are being solved.

In the new version of the Constitution of the Republic of Uzbekistan the right to life is an inalienable right of every person and is protected by law. The most serious crime is an attempt on a person's life. The death penalty is prohibited in the Republic of Uzbekistan. Essence is that no one can be intentionally deprived of life. This norm is in line with the Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms, as well as the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. The human right to life is recognized as a natural and inviolable right arising from the moment of his birth, and belongs to a person regardless of the existence of statehood and laws.

In recent years, as part of the work to bring national legislation into line with international standards, for the first time the right to be elected was granted to convicts, except for persons who committed serious and especially serious crimes (Part 6 of Article 128 of the Constitution of the Republic of Uzbekistan). The number of convicts held in institutions of general, strict, special, prison and educational regime has doubled, for correspondence, receiving visits, parcels, transfers and parcels, conducting telephone conversations.

In addition, those sentenced to imprisonment are guaranteed psychological assistance and non-application of disciplinary measures for violations committed at the time of mental disorder, and the right to a pension is established for those serving sentences in penal colonies.

Law of the Republic of Uzbekistan June 30, 2020 introduced a new norm into the Penal Enforcement Code defining the procedure for the application of incentive measures for persons serving sentences, expanded measures aimed at ensuring the personal safety of convicts while serving their sentences.

At the request of the convicts, long-term visits can be replaced by short-term visits or remote video calls or telephone conversations, and short-term visits are replaced by remote video calls or telephone conversations. Persons serving sentences from low-income families are employed in high-paying jobs.

In the process of ongoing reforms, special attention was paid to creating decent conditions for convicts, for this purpose, the pre-trial detention facility -64/1, which had a negative character and was popularly nicknamed "Tashturma", was closed in Tashkent. Instead, a new pre-trial detention facility №1 has been built and is functioning in  Zangiata district of the Tashkent region, fully meeting international standards. Similarly, the institution "Jaslyk" in Karakalpakstan was abolished, and the convicts held in it were transferred to other colonies of the republic.

In recent years, there has been a tendency in our country to use alternative, non-custodial measures, which has reduced the number of convicts sent to penal institutions. This situation has made it possible over the past four years to reduce three penal colonies of the general regime, one each in Navoi, Kashkadarya and Tashkent regions.

In the Republic, the legislative, executive, and departmental authorities constantly monitor compliance with the rule of law and ensure the rights and legitimate interests of persons serving sentences in places of deprivation of liberty.

Thus, with the introduction of the post of Commissioner of the Oliy Majlis of the Republic of Uzbekistan for Human Rights (Ombudsman) He was granted the right to freely visit penal institutions. The Ombudsman and the Prosecutor have separate mailboxes designed for applications and complaints from these persons. The Prosecutor's Office and the Ombudsman regularly examine the observance of laws in penal institutions. The management of the Department for the Execution of Punishment constantly carries out field visits to places of deprivation of liberty in order to study the complaints and statements of convicts and make an appropriate decision and its immediate execution.

It should be added that, according to the recommendations of the UN charter bodies and treaty committees, the national preventive mechanism is being improved on the basis of the "Ombudsman Plus" model. The Ombudsman, and the Children's Ombudsman, the National Center for Human Rights and the Business Ombudsman have also been given the authority to monitor penal institutions.

As a result of the ongoing reforms, completely new priorities of the State penal enforcement policy have been developed and put into practice, providing for the following main aspects.

In particular, the Penal Enforcement Code has been supplemented with a new Article 102 "Procedure for the application of incentive measures", which abolished restrictions on visits of juvenile convicts with their parents or persons replacing them; convicted pregnant women with children are granted additional rights to long visits with minor children lasting up to five days - four times a year as well as long - term visits with the possibility of living outside the territory of the institution, the application of incentive measures to convicts - at least twice a year; if there is a threat to the safety of a person sentenced to imprisonment, it is established that he can apply, verbally or in writing, to any employee of the institution for the execution of punishment in order to ensure the declared safety, while the requirement is defined – upon receipt of such a statement about the need for immediate action, measures should be taken immediately to ensure his safety. An important requirement is also to prevent the unjustified use of rudeness, physical force and special means by employees and military personnel during the search of convicts; timely and appropriate conduct of long and short-term visits, telephone conversations, remote video communication, short-term remote video communication or telephone conversation.

It should be noted that such measures of encouragement for convicts are also enshrined in the penal codes of Spain, Turkiye, Japan and some other countries.

In accordance with the norms of the Penal Enforcement Code of the Republic of Uzbekistan, penitentiary institutions provide measures to protect the health of convicts, ensure their education, free use of libraries and other authorized sources of information (radio, television, movies and video films, etc.).

The "Import model" of prison management in Norway with a developed penal enforcement system is of interest. To implement this model, work is underway to establish a system of providing services (education, library use, health care) in places of detention.

It is also necessary to mention the Law of the Republic of Uzbekistan dated December 7, 2021, which, in order to humanize minors in the Penal Enforcement Code, provides for a norm defining the placement of persons in educational colonies not from the age of 13, but from 14. This has become one of the important steps towards reliable protection of the rights and legitimate interests of minors in the process of criminal and judicial proceedings in our country.

In order to further deepen the large-scale reforms being implemented in the system of Ministry of Internal Affairs, decree of March 26 and Resolution of April 2, 2021, the Main Directorate for the Execution of Punishment was transformed into the Department for the Execution of Punishment under the Ministry of Internal Affairs, it defines the legal basis for the department's activities to ensure the order of serving punishment by digitalizing the penal enforcement system, which will eliminate errors related to the human factor.

In addition, the law of the Republic of Uzbekistan dated February 15, 2023 "On State pension provision for citizens" provides that any work performed by persons sentenced to imprisonment while serving their sentence in penal institutions may be envisaged that the convicted person will be included in the work record in case of tax payment. This procedure is now defined in Article 96 of the Penal Enforcement Code of the Republic of Uzbekistan in a new edition, which has been renamed as "Payment of social tax and pension provision for convicts." Its first part defines "The expenses of institutions for the execution of punishment for the payment of labor sentenced to imprisonment that are subject to social tax", along with this, convicts have the right to transfer funds and use other services provided to convicts.

An important legislative decision is the prohibition of the use of a punishment measure with the use of a "straitjacket". This provision is based on Article 26 of the Constitution of the Republic of Uzbekistan, which states: "No one may be subjected to torture, violence, or other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment" directly acts to prevent the use of torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment in penal institutions.

As a result of the ongoing reforms in the system of state penal enforcement policy, it is stipulated that common living quarters for persons with disabilities of groups I and II sentenced to imprisonment should be equipped with special means and devices; it is allowed to watch films, television and radio broadcasts, except for the time allotted for night rest; criteria for treatment are defined convicts.

In addition, it is important to eliminate corruption factors in assessing the behavior of convicts by including the length of service in the institution in the total length of service for their further retirement and, most importantly, by establishing strict criteria that determine the way to correct convicts.

The above allows us to conclude that the reforms carried out in this area are yielding positive results. In particular, recently the offenses of convicts in places of deprivation of liberty and after their release have been reduced; to a greater extent, the conditions of serving a sentence in the form of imprisonment comply with international standards, the incentive mechanisms applied to convicts serving sentences and those who have embarked on the path of correction are being improved, they ensure the protection of the rights, freedoms and legitimate interests of convicts, allowing them not to violate their interests; Public groups and citizens' self-government bodies are actively involved in the educational process of correcting convicts; offenses by law enforcement agencies have significantly decreased.

Mirzayusup Rustambayev,

Head of the University of Public Safety of the Republic of Uzbekistan, Doctor of Law, Professor

The main feature of a democratic society is the protection of human rights and the provision of equal opportunities for all in public life and administration. Gender equality is an essential component of this, as it ensures equal protection of rights and freedoms for individuals.

The Constitution of Uzbekistan states that all citizens enjoy equal rights and freedoms, regardless of gender, race, nationality, language, religion, beliefs, social origin or social status. Article 58 states that men and women have equal rights, and the state provides equal opportunities for both genders in managing society and state affairs.

These principles of equality and social justice are reflected in all laws and regulations, ensuring that everyone has equal access to opportunities and rights. This includes gender equality, which is essential for a fair and just society.

It should be noted that, in recent years, more than 40 legislative documents and important conceptual programs have been adopted within the framework of which efforts have been made to create equal rights and opportunities for women and men, strengthen the role of women in government and community leadership, provide necessary conditions for education, vocational training, employment, and create decent working conditions. These efforts also aim to increase women's participation in economic life and protect them against various forms of harassment and violence.

In particular, the law “On guarantees of equal rights and opportunities for women and men” provides for the prevention of gender discrimination and the provision of equal participation for all in public administration. The Law on Protection of Women from Harassment and Violence establishes mechanisms to end various forms of violence against women and to provide protection and assistance to victims.

The “Strategy for achieving gender equality in Uzbekistan until 2030” approved by the decision of the Senate of the Oliy Majlis of the Republic of Uzbekistan on May 28, 2021, envisages a comprehensive approach to the implementation of the principle of equality between women and men in all spheres and levels of decision-making and implementation. Also, the strategy serves to ensure the promotion of gender equality in economic, political, and social life in order to create conditions for the realization of equal rights and opportunities for men and women and to observe fundamental human rights.

Due to this, gender policy in our country has become an important factor in society and state development. Concepts such as “gender equality”, “gender and development”, “gender balance”, and “the role of women in social and political life” are expressed in the development of program documents and all normative legal documents in our country.

In practice, the results are even more significant. In particular, the reason for the gender policy is that in the last seven years, the share of women in public administration in Uzbekistan has increased from 27% to 35%. In his speech at the 78th session of the United Nations General Assembly, the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan, Shavkat Mirziyoyev, summarized the systematic efforts to achieve gender equality in our country and noted that the share of women in public administration reached 35% for the first time.

Moreover, in our country, 32% of the deputies in the Legislative Chamber of the Oliy Majlis and 25% of the members of the Senate are women. The number of women entrepreneurs has doubled, and the number of women who have started their own business has exceeded 205 thousand. Hundreds of thousands of women were trained in trades and entrepreneurship. Among the population employed in health care and education, the share of women is 77 percent, in the economy and industry, it is 46 percent. The number of girls studying in higher education institutions has increased by six times; more than half of the students are women.

Uzbekistan has ratified the main international human rights treaties and conventions related to gender equality. Our country joined the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) in 1995 and undertook to eliminate discrimination and ensure the full development and well-being of women. Uzbekistan has also ratified the Beijing Declaration and the Platform for Action, which set strategic goals for achieving gender equality, and has been effectively fulfilling the relevant obligations.

Therefore, the systematic measures taken in this regard are duly recognized by the international community. In particular, in the World Bank index, Uzbekistan was listed among the 5 fastest developing countries in the world in the field of gender equality.

In addition, Uzbekistan ranked 18th out of 195 countries with a score of
69.7 in the “Open Data Watch” organization's Open Gender Data Index, and was ranked among the “Top-20”.

In the policy of ensuring gender equality in the public service, increasing the weight of women in public administration, in particular, issues of forming a team of potential female leaders are of priority.

It should be noted that after the introduction of open competitions by the Public Service Development Agency, practically the same requirements were set for everyone. The human factor between the employer, personnel department representatives, and candidates was limited. Equal opportunities are guaranteed for all.

This, of course, further expanded the opportunities for women to enter the civil service. If we base our opinion on the numbers, earlier women made up
5-8 percent of those who entered the civil service, now women make up about
34 percent of the winners of the competition.

To be more specific, 2.1 million applications have been received in open competitions to date, of which 20% are women. 56,500 of our citizens won these contests, and 19,670 of them (35 percent) were women.

The first direction of ensuring gender equality in the personnel policy is to attract the most potential women to the civil service, to increase the attractiveness of the civil service for them, and the second major direction is to hire highly skilled people in the management of the civil service – “HiPo” (High potential) is to systematically prepare female personnel for leadership positions and to form a corps of “Women leaders”.

According to many sociologists, a professional leader is a person who has certain characteristics for successful management, regardless of gender. For effective management, it is not the role of the leader in gender relations, but the presence of professional competences such as the ability to correctly set priorities in solving the problem, to direct the team, and to fully achieve the goals based on the rational distribution of resources, is considered important.

However, due to the problem of vertical segregation, the low proportion of women in high-ranking positions, and the problem of the “glass ceiling”—invisible barriers to advancement our women have to work in more middle and senior management positions. As a reason for such a situation, we can point out the high responsibility of leadership, and for this reason, the professional qualifications, knowledge, and potential of women are not in accordance with the relevant leadership position.

In order to form specialists into good leaders, it is necessary to develop the necessary soft skills in effective work with personnel and making optimal decisions in management, development of human resources, innovation, critical and systematic thinking, and leadership competencies.

Therefore, our agency, in cooperation with the Family and Women's Committee and the Academy of Public Administration, launched the “Women's School of Leaders” educational program aimed at preparing the most potential women working in state bodies for leadership.

Until now, on the basis of this program, he has a high professional potential, is active in the implementation of reforms, and is active in various fields of public administration. The qualification of 145 women was improved.

At this point, it should be noted that by the Decree of the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan No. PF-81 dated March 1, 2022, the position of women activists was introduced in every neighborhood in all cities, towns, villages, and towns. In turn, through this, the President created a practical school for the formation of women leaders. Currently, there are about 9,400 women activists at the lower level, and 207 women are working as deputy governors, heads of family, and women's departments at the middle level.

Those who have achieved the highest results according to the KPI system by the State Service Development Agency are included in the National Personnel Reserve and are purposefully prepared for senior leadership positions.

As a result of the above-summarized measures implemented on the basis of today's gender equality policy, a unique national model of preparing women for leadership is being formed in our country.

In conclusion, a strong legal basis for gender equality policy has been formed in our country, and as a result of the full and correct implementation of these norms in life, we are making progress recognized by the international community. On this basis, it can be noted that gender policy in Uzbekistan serves as an important criterion for ensuring human rights.

Dilfuza Makhkamova,

Head of the Department of the Agency for the Development of Public Service under the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan

Farangiz Avazbekova,

Chief Inspector of the Agency for the Development of Public Service

under the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan;

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Law

The Head of State identified priorities for updating the activities of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and foreign diplomatic missions

On January 15, an expanded meeting was chaired by President Shavkat Mirziyoyev on the activities of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and diplomatic missions abroad, reports Dunyo IA correspondent.

Opening the session, the Head of our state noted that the meeting is taking place amid sharp geopolitical changes in the world and increasing threats to the sovereignty of states. In this regard, the need to critically assess current foreign policy activities and move to a renewed format for organizing the work of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and foreign diplomatic missions was emphasized.

President noted that 2025 had been a productive year for the country's foreign policy. During the year, high-level visits were made to 26 foreign countries, and for the first time in recent history, visits to Uzbekistan were organized by the leaders of a number of countries. Multilateral dialogues in the “Central Asia Plus” format became productive. In recent years, strategic partnerships have been established with 11 countries, bringing the total number to 19, and allied relations have been built with Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan, and Tajikistan.

– As a result of an open, pragmatic, thoughtful and proactive foreign policy, Uzbekistan is consistently strengthening its position as one of the global centres of peace and diplomacy, – emphasized President.

Since 2017, 16 new diplomatic missions and consulates have been opened abroad, bringing their total number to 60, and the number of countries with which diplomatic relations have been established to 165. There has also been an increase in the number of staff and salaries of employees of embassies, consular offices, representative offices to international organizations and employees of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

At the same time, a fundamental question was raised as to whether all diplomatic missions are making full use of the opportunities provided.

– In the current environment, an ambassador is not just a person who conducts political dialogue. An ambassador is a state representative who attracts investment and technologies, opens new export markets, launches transport and logistics corridors, increases tourist flows, creates conditions for legal labor migration and, most importantly, protects the rights of our citizens, - emphasized President.

In this regard, it was noted that key performance indicators for ambassadors should include the volume of export revenues from the countries of residence, growth in tourist flows and the effectiveness of organizing legal labor migration.

Particular emphasis was placed on the need to increase exports and investments by strengthening economic diplomacy.

As part of bilateral and multilateral events in 2025, agreements were signed on investment projects and trade contracts totaling $160 billion. For the first time in history, foreign trade turnover exceeded $80 billion, exports reached $33,5 billion, and foreign investment exceeded $43 billion. Exports to 75 countries increased by almost $4,5 billion.

In view of this, the ambassadors have been tasked with expanding export deliveries to the Middle East, Europe, Asia, and Africa, as well as implementing specific projects in the fields of industry, agriculture, the chemical industry, the textile industry, greenhouse farming, and the service sector. At the same time, it was noted that Uzbekistan's products remain insufficiently recognized in certain markets.

It was noted that the growth of logistics costs has a negative impact on the competitiveness of domestic products. In this regard, the need to diversify transit routes, optimize logistics chains, and develop additional proposals to reduce transportation costs when entering European markets was indicated.

In the agricultural sector, tasks have been set for researching and implementing water-saving technologies, modern agricultural technologies, and innovative greenhouse solutions. Along with this, measures have been outlined to expand export markets for chemical industry products, bring domestic manufacturers up to international standards and requirements, and organize specialized exhibitions and presentations.

The need to intensify trade and economic cooperation with the African continent as one of the promising new export destinations has been emphasized. To this end, a clear roadmap is to be developed with the participation of relevant ministries and foreign diplomatic missions.

It was noted that ambassadors should be directly interested in finding promising projects, attracting them, and implementing them in practice. In this regard, it was decided to introduce financial incentives for ambassadors who bring specific investment or export projects to a logical conclusion.

Criticism was levelled at the insufficient realisation of existing potential in a number of areas. In particular, it was noted that opportunities to attract international grants are not being fully exploited. It was noted that with closer and more systematic interaction between ministries, industry leaders, and ambassadors, it would have been possible to attract an additional $200-300 million in grant funds last year.

As noted, international organizations and donor countries announce grant programs worth approximately $200 billion annually. In this regard, the task has been set to implement a unified, systematic and effective approach to working with grants.

In addition, the need to take concrete measures, together with the ambassadors to the United States, the United Kingdom, Germany, Switzerland, China, Japan and Singapore, to attract leading foreign universities ranked in the top 100 worldwide as partners of Uzbek higher education institutions was emphasized.

It was noted that cooperation between regions and diplomatic missions in expanding foreign economic relations is still insufficient. The need for active participation of regional governors, together with ambassadors, in the systematic promotion of export-oriented products of the regions and in facilitating the entry of local enterprises into foreign markets was emphasized.

Providing Uzbek citizens with legal and high-paying jobs abroad was identified as another priority area. The expansion of the geography of organized labor migration was noted, while it was pointed out that in a number of countries, work in this area is not sufficiently effective and relevant instructions were given in this regard.

It was emphasized that embassies and consulates should actively protect the rights and legitimate interests of citizens and provide qualified legal assistance in each specific case. The task has been set to abandon "office diplomacy", strengthen work in the field and establish direct dialogue with compatriots.

In the field of tourism, the need to further strengthen the role of ambassadors, introduce new approaches to promoting the country's tourism and cultural potential, make effective use of visa-free regimes and attract international outsourcing companies has been identified.

Issues related to expanding foreign policy ties, high-quality and timely preparation of high-level visits, retraining of diplomatic personnel, and the formation of a reserve of promising specialists were also discussed.

The intensification of foreign information policy and the improvement of the country's international image through systematic work with foreign media and the implementation of special media projects were identified as priority tasks.

The need to update the Concept of foreign policy of the Republic of Uzbekistan, review its priority areas, and define clear tasks for protecting national interests and strengthening the country's position in the international arena was emphasized.

As the President noted, the new concept should comprehensively reflect long-term strategic goals, the logic of internal reforms as well as national interests in the areas of economic diplomacy, security, investment, exports, transport and logistics, water and climate issues.

In order to give proper recognition to the achievements of diplomats, it was proposed to establish the honorary title of “Honored Diplomat of the Republic of Uzbekistan".

At the end of the meeting, President Shavkat Mirziyoyev emphasized: “The time has come for a new generation of diplomats – those who achieve concrete results and firmly defend the interests of Uzbekistan in the international arena”.

In the course of the session, reports and proposals of our ambassadors abroad were heard.

Dunyo IA

Dear forum participants!

Dear guests!

I sincerely congratulate you, all those who make a worthy contribution to the development of the holy religion Islam, on the opening of the international scientific-practical conference dedicated to the study of the scientific heritage of the great muhaddis Imam Termezi in the homeland of outstanding Muslim scholars - in Uzbekistan.

It is gratifying that today's authoritative forum is attended by renowned specialists in the field of Islamic studies - prominent scholars and ulema, experts and researchers. In your person we see the continuers of the good traditions of the great thinkers who are the pride of the Muslim world - Imam Bukhari and Imam Termezi.

May the Almighty bless you, I wish you happiness and prosperity!

Dear friends!

Speaking about our outstanding ancestors-scientists, bright representatives of the Islamic world of the Middle Ages, we, of course, among the first names of Hazrat Imam Termezi.

We are rightfully proud of this incomparable person, the favorite disciple of the great Imam Bukhari, who was honored with the high rank of Sultan of Muhaddis, who has been glorifying our region for twelve centuries with his undying works and high human qualities.

Imam Termezi is recognized in the world as one of the six great muhaddis, his collection of hadiths is among the most revered and reliable sources, and the Muslim Ummah bows before the name of this outstanding man.

Another practical expression of such recognition is the fact that the topic for discussion at today's conference was the unique works of Imam Termezi “Ash-Shamoil al-Muhammadiyya” and “Sunani Termiziyya”, as well as important issues concerning the scientific heritage of the Ulema Termezis and its relevance today.

Dear participants of the conference!

In recent years, a great work has been carried out in our country to study and popularize the invaluable heritage of many of our thinkers-theologians who made a great contribution to the development of the Islamic religion, to honor their memory, to improve the places associated with their life and activities, including Imam Termezi.

It should be noted that a magnificent memorial complex has been erected in his honor in Sherabad district of Surkhandarya province, and an international research center, a specialized Islamic secondary school and an Islamic institute have been opened in the city of Termez bearing his name.

These institutions, together with the International Islamic Academy of Uzbekistan, the Centre for Islamic Civilization, the Hadith Scientific School and other religious educational and research organizations, are studying the rich heritage of Imam Termezi in a comprehensive and in-depth manner. In particular, works of the thinker are published, scientific researches, books and artistic works are dedicated to him.

I hope that after familiarizing yourselves with the work carried out in this direction within the framework of the conference, you will express your opinions and proposals on further activation of cooperation in this field.

We, the heirs of great scientists, emphasizing that Islam is a religion of peace, goodness and humanism, on the way of realization of good hopes and aspirations of mankind, consider it our most important duty to jointly enrich this incomparable spiritual treasure and preserve it for future generations.

I express my deep gratitude to the scientists and ulema of our country and to you, dear guests, to all figures of science who show real dedication for such a noble goal.

The doors of the leading research and educational institutions of Uzbekistan are always open for you.

Greeting you once again from the bottom of my heart, I wish you health, new achievements in your scientific and creative activities, and a successful conference.

Shavkat Mirziyoyev,

President of the Republic of Uzbekistan

The Director of the Institute for Strategic and Regional Studies under the President of Uzbekistan (ISRS) Eldor Aripov, commented to Dunyo IA on President Shavkat Mirziyoyev’s Address to the Oliy Majlis and the people of Uzbekistan:

- The Address of President Shavkat Mirziyoyev to the Oliy Majlis and the people of Uzbekistan goes far beyond the scope of a routine annual political speech in its significance. It constitutes a strategic policy document that marks the country’s transition to a qualitatively new stage of development — the institutional consolidation of reforms and the formation of a sustainable growth model oriented toward the long term.

Over the past decade, Uzbekistan’s economy has undergone an accelerated process of qualitative and systemic transformation. While in the mid-2010s the country’s nominal gross domestic product stood at approximately USD 60–65 billion, it has now reached USD 145 billion, as noted in the President’s Address. In practical terms, this represents more than a twofold expansion of the nation’s economic scale over an unprecedentedly short historical period.

In recent years, average annual economic growth has consistently remained at around six percent. This reflects not only the preservation of positive momentum, but also the economy’s capacity for sustained growth amid external shocks — including the pandemic, disruptions to raw material supplies and logistics chains, and global inflationary pressures.

Sectoral indicators corroborate this assessment. Over the past decade, industrial output has more than doubled, whereas in the early 2010s industry played a largely auxiliary role relative to the commodity-based and agricultural sectors. Today, mechanical engineering, the electrical equipment industry, and the chemical sector make a stable contribution to the economy, while the share of processing and manufacturing activities in the GDP structure has already exceeded 80 percent.

The dynamics of the agricultural sector are equally indicative. Whereas ten years ago production volumes remained the primary benchmark, today — as emphasized in the President’s Address — the priority has shifted toward processing and the export of finished products. The expansion of fruit and vegetable processing and the growth of food exports are shaping a more resilient development model, reducing the economy’s dependence on fluctuations in harvest yields and prices.

Investment dynamics also reflect qualitative change. In recent years, investment in fixed capital has been growing at a rapid pace and has reached levels well above historical averages, whereas in the early 2010s this indicator was significantly lower. At the same time, the composition of investment has shifted: while previously it was concentrated primarily in infrastructure and state-led projects, a substantial share is now being directed toward industry, energy, transport, and digital solutions. As a result, investment is beginning to support not only current growth, but also the formation of the country’s future productive base.

External trade dynamics further reinforce this picture. Over the past decade, Uzbekistan’s export revenues have more than doubled: whereas in the mid-2010s exports of goods and services stood at approximately USD 12–13 billion, in recent years they have consistently exceeded USD 24–25 billion. Crucially, this growth has been driven not only by favorable price conditions, but also by changes in the structure of export supplies.

This transformation is most clearly visible in the manufacturing and processing industries. Over the past decade, exports of textile products have increased more than threefold — from less than $1 billion to around $3 billion and above — reflecting a shift from raw-material exports to finished goods. A similar trajectory can be observed in the electrical engineering, chemical, and food industries, where export volumes have risen several times over as a result of expanded production chains and access to new markets.

Macroeconomic balance warrants particular attention. Economic and investment growth has been accompanied by the maintenance of a controlled level of public debt and overall financial stability. This is especially significant, as recent experience shows that rapid growth without adequate balance often leads to the accumulation of constraints on future development. The Address underscores that Uzbekistan has deliberately chosen a more cautious, yet strategically advantageous, development trajectory.

A comparison of developments over the past decade leads to a key strategic conclusion: the republic has reached a stage at which further progress is determined less by the sheer size of the economy than by its quality. This is why the President’s Address places central emphasis on boosting labor productivity, advancing technological modernization, and deepening industrialization. The achievements to date are viewed as the foundation upon which the economy of the coming decade is to be built.

Compared with the starting point a decade ago, the country’s economy has become larger, more diversified, and more resilient. These changes provide a long-term strategic foundation for improving citizens’ well-being and strengthening Uzbekistan’s position in both regional and global markets.

Another notable aspect of the President’s Address is its clear illustration of the feedback loop between the state and its citizens, particularly in terms of aligning ongoing reforms with the everyday needs of the population.

An analysis of the Address indicates that its priorities fully align with the issues consistently highlighted in public opinion surveys and citizen appeals over recent years. At the center of attention are employment, income levels, access to social services, the quality of education and healthcare, as well as fairness and efficiency in public governance.

Whereas in 2017–2018 poverty in Uzbekistan was measured in double digits (around 35 percent), by 2024 it had fallen to 8.9 percent.

The projected reduction to 5.8 percent in 2025 demonstrates that the country is not only approaching the previously set target — reducing poverty to six percent by the end of the year — but is actually surpassing it.

Moreover, the Address highlights a strategic goal of eradicating extreme poverty by 2030, making the fight against poverty a central pillar of the country’s long-term policy framework. This achievement has been made possible through the effective implementation of a series of social programs and reforms aimed at sustainably increasing household incomes, creating employment opportunities, and strengthening social protection.

For a significant portion of the population, particularly young people and residents of regional areas, access to stable employment and reliable sources of income is the key determinant of social well-being. Support for small and medium-sized enterprises, as well as the development of industry and infrastructure highlighted in the Address, directly responds to these expectations. International organizations, including UNDP and the Asian Development Bank, note in their studies that such a focus on employment is among the most effective tools for social stabilization.

Equally important as an indicator that the state listens to its citizens is its focus on the quality of basic services. In the Address, education, healthcare, and workforce development are presented as strategic priorities rather than secondary concerns. This aligns with the public’s expressed demand for improvements in human capital and social mobility.

The section on public governance also warrants special attention. In recent years, one of the most frequent requests from citizens has been the reduction of bureaucracy and the enhancement of transparency and accountability among officials.

Taken together, the content of the Address suggests that the state demonstrates the ability to listen to its citizens and translate public expectations into elements of strategic policy.

President Shavkat Mirziyoyev plays a particularly important role in this process as the key architect of these reforms. International financial and analytical institutions have repeatedly emphasized that political leadership is a decisive factor in the successful implementation of comprehensive reforms in countries with transitioning economies.

In Uzbekistan’s case, consistency, political will, and a focus on long-term results have made it possible to synchronize macroeconomic stabilization, social policy, and institutional reforms within a single strategic framework. The President’s Address serves both as a concentrated expression of this strategy and as a tool for its further deepening.

Taken together, the President’s Address to the Oliy Majlis and the people of Uzbekistan constitutes not merely an agenda for the next stage of reforms, but a strategic framework for the country’s future development. Supported by empirical data and assessments from leading international organizations, it strengthens domestic consensus and enhances the confidence of the international community. Its key significance lies precisely in its role as a document that defines the sustainability of reforms and the country’s long-term competitiveness.

Dunyo IA

President of the Republic of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev met with Director General of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) Qiu Dongyu on September 5.

The head of the authoritative branch structure of the United Nations system is in Tashkent within the framework of the ongoing International Forum on Food Security and Sustainable Development Goals for Landlocked Countries.

At the beginning of the meeting, the UN High Representative expressed his deep gratitude to the head of our state for supporting the successful holding of the forum, which is attended by representative delegations from more than 30 countries of the world.

In the course of the conversation, the sides considered issues of further expanding the strategic partnership between Uzbekistan and FAO in effectively responding to contemporary challenges and threats.

The sides noted with satisfaction the fruitful results of practical interaction achieved in recent years. Thus, the qualitative indicators of implementation of the country cooperation program for the period until 2025 have doubled.

There are 34 projects in the active phase of implementation. Over the last year, 7 new projects were launched, including in the field of agriculture, school feeding, veterinary medicine, agrochemistry and other spheres.

The importance of preparation and adoption of a new five-year partnership program was emphasized.

Special attention was paid to promising joint projects and activities in the field of digitalization of the agro-industrial complex, exchange of advanced knowledge and experience, attraction of innovations and investments in improving the fertility of the land fund, cultivation and processing of organic agricultural products, modernization of irrigation systems, creation of modern clusters and logistics centers, research and development.

There was also an exchange of views on the global and regional situation related to food security.

The most important sign of civil society is manifested in the fact that citizens exercise complete control over the activities of state structures. According to article 36 of the new version of the Constitution of Uzbekistan, our citizens have the right to participate directly and through their representatives in the management of the affairs of society and the state. Such participation is carried out through self-government, referendums and the democratic formation of state bodies, as well as public control over the activities of state bodies. The procedure for exercising public control over the activities of state bodies is established by law.

In order to organize and regulate relations in the field of public control over the activities of state bodies and institutions, the law “On Public Control” was adopted on April 12, 2018. According to this law, public control is carried out in such forms as appeals and requests to state bodies, public discussions, public hearings, public monitoring, and the study is carried out by citizens' self-government bodies in such forms as hearing reports and information from officials of state bodies.

Consistent work is underway in our country to implement public control and improve the regulatory framework governing this area. By presidential decree dated May 4, 2018, the badge "For contribution to the development of civil society" was established; the decree of the President of Uzbekistan dated July 4, 2018 "On measures to organize the activities of public councils under state bodies" was of great importance for accelerating work in this area. This resolution establishes the procedure for organizing the main tasks, functions, powers and activities of the public council under state bodies, which basically provides that the public council is created by the decision of the head of the state body, carries out its work on a voluntary basis and it is assumed that it will conduct its work on a public basis, as well as be considered as a permanent advisory body whose decisions will be advisory in nature.

As Shavkat Mirziyoyev noted, “There is no more effective tool for achieving the supremacy of the Constitution and the law than public control.” Public control is an important institution of democracy and people's power; it serves to ensure the protection of the rights and legitimate interests of citizens by monitoring the activities of state bodies.

In recent years, special attention has been paid in our republic to ensuring the participation of citizens in the management of society and public affairs, the creation of effective mechanisms for public control over the activities of the executive branch, and further strengthening the functions of public control. In particular, at the initiative of the President of Uzbekistan, a public chamber was established in 2020 in order to further strengthen public control and establish close cooperation between the state and society. It was noted that the public chamber should regularly study the opinion of the population, set specific tasks for government agencies to find solutions. The importance of implementing such influential forms of control as "public hearings", "public monitoring", "public expertise", and "public initiative" was demonstrated.

According to the decree of the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan "On measures to expand financing of projects formed on the basis of public opinion", adopted on October 25, 2022, an additional 335 billion soums were allocated for the implementation of 364 projects, each of which received more than 2 thousand votes in July-September 2022.

In recent years of modern development in our republic, the system of public administration has been improved, effective mechanisms of dialogue with the people have been introduced, and the effectiveness of the role and activities of the Mahalla Institute in the management of society has increased. Virtual and public reception rooms of the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan were created in order to ensure human interests, knowledge and solution of problems and needs of people. These structures have become a mechanism for in-depth analysis of problems on the ground and a criterion for increasing the responsibility of state bodies and officials to society and evaluating their activities.

To date, such systems as "online reception" and "virtual visit" have been introduced, allowing for quick and economical identification of problems on the ground in order to optimize their expenses related to the maintenance of the public administration apparatus, eliminate corruption factors and establish effective public control over budget spending.

As an example, it is worth mentioning that in recent years a new system of dialogue with the people has been created – the activities of the presidential virtual and people's reception rooms. Of the 9,465,000 applications received by the virtual reception of the President, about 9,379,000 have been considered, the rest are also being resolved in accordance with the procedure established by law. The results of the public discussion can also be found on the "portal for discussions of draft regulatory legal acts" (regulation.gov.uz), which is clearly seen in the example. To date, 25384 draft regulatory legal acts have been posted on this portal for public discussion, of which 25183 have already been completed.

In recent years, the study of public opinion has become publicly available. The Open Budget portal was launched to exercise public control over targeted budget expenditures. Citizens can send messages about violations of budget legislation through the Portal, suggestions for improving the budget process, while receiving information such as the state budget, budget execution through this portal. In particular, an initiative budget has been launched through the Open Budget information portal, which is held 2 times a year. Thanks to this portal, citizens are focused on solving problems through joint voting. In the first season (February) 2024, 35,575 initiatives were supported, for which 3,390.5 billion soums were allocated.

Establishing the accountability of public authorities to parliament and local councils, as well as the introduction of the Electronic Government system, led to a further strengthening of public control. As a result, today in our country there is a single interactive portal of public services (my.gov.uz), an open data portal (data.egov.uz), a portal for discussing draft regulatory documents (regulation.gov.uz), and a complex of information systems “License" (license.gov.uz), information system for automating the activities of Single Window centers (birdarcha.uz).

Since 2023, in order to improve the system for identifying and solving social problems among the population in our republic, the practice of monthly hearing information from the heads of relevant government bodies and organizations in the mahalla council has been established, and new forms of public control have been introduced - “mahalla control” groups and “survey” institutions mahalla chairmen." Also, on behalf of the President, the “digital mahalla” system and the “people’s control” platform were improved.

The “My Opinion” web portal, which is under the jurisdiction of the Public Chamber, was created in order to expand the opportunities of citizens in our country to participate in the management of the affairs of society and the state, to ensure the openness of the activities of representative bodies of state power, to ensure the viability and effectiveness of the public administration system. Through this portal, a citizen can send proposals on legislation on important issues of state and public importance in the form of an electronic collective appeal. The My Opinion web portal, which is under the jurisdiction of the Public Chamber, was created in order to expand the opportunities of citizens in our country to participate in the management of the affairs of society and the state, to ensure the openness of the activities of representative bodies of state power, to ensure the viability and effectiveness of the public administration system. Through this portal, a citizen can send proposals on legislation on important issues of state and public importance in the form of an electronic collective appeal "Meningfikrim.uz "(My opinion). To date, more than 6670 collective appeals and about 30,000 comments have been received through the portal.

In recent years, political parties, which are considered to be one of the main actors of civil society in our country, have been given not only ample opportunities for free participation in elections, but also control over the executive branch. Political parties also have the right to exercise public control based on the interests of the public and their electorate. During election processes, local observers at polling stations consist of representatives of political parties and citizens' self-government bodies.

The role of the media in developing openness and transparency in our society, establishing public control over the activities of government bodies and their officials, studying and resolving legal appeals from citizens is also incomparable. In particular, the number of media registered in 2016–2023 increased by 41%, that is, in 2016 their number was 1614, and by 2023 it reached 2140. The number of mobile Internet users also exceeded 33 million.

As can be seen from the above, the main purpose of public control is to ensure respect for the rights, freedoms and legitimate interests of citizens, to ensure legality in the activities of state bodies and officials, and to protect the interests of society.

The Uzbekistan 2030 strategy, developed based on the results of public discussions in order to create a fair and modern state serving the people, identified such priority tasks as: creating the necessary conditions for public participation in the activities of local councils, broad involvement of civil society institutions and the gradual digitalization of their activities, establishing the practice of assessing the activities of heads of state bodies and their deputies based on public opinion, and intensified continuation of work to form an unparalleled attitude towards corruption in society.

As a result of public control, the activities of state bodies in the country are objectively studied, their shortcomings are identified, various violations of legislation are prevented, public participation in the implementation of laws and their preparation is ensured, broader conditions are created for the prompt solution of various problems in society and the will of the population, and special attention should be paid to the fact that public control implies not only control over the quality of the work performed, but also the use of opportunities, as well as participation in their development.

In conclusion, I would like to note that in our republic, constitutional status has been given a state public control. In the new Uzbekistan, the participation of citizens in the management of the affairs of society and the state, including the development and improvement of public control over the activities of state bodies, provides ample opportunities for the full-fledged formation and strengthening of civil society in our country.  If the public control in the country is strong, the state is more humane, free and fair.

N.S.Rasulova, candidate of historical sciences Associate professor of the University  of Public safety of the Republic of Uzbekistan