On October 9, President Shavkat Mirziyoyev of Uzbekistan participated in the Second "Central Asia - Russia" Summit, held in Dushanbe.
During the summit, he outlined strategic priorities aimed at deepening comprehensive cooperation between Central Asian nations and Russia, The Caspian Post reports, citing Uzbek media.
At the beginning of his address, the head of state expressed gratitude to the President of Russia Vladimir Putin for his commitment to developing a comprehensive strategic partnership with Central Asia, supporting initiatives aimed at giving new momentum to cooperation among countries that are natural partners.
“Russia has been, is, and will always remain our key, priority strategic partner and ally. The solid and unshakable foundation of this cooperation lies in our shared history, centuries-old ties, cultural and spiritual affinity of our peoples, and the friendly and trusting relations between our countries”, stated the president of Uzbekistan.
It was noted that the growing geopolitical tensions, crises in the global economy, and the emergence of new challenges and threats call for closer coordination and cooperation within the ‘Central Asia - Russia’ format.
In this context, the Uzbek president outlined his vision for the prospects of cooperation between the countries of the region and Russia.
First and foremost, the importance of strengthening a systematic political dialogue and expanding practical cooperation focused on tangible results was emphasized. In this regard, he advocated for holding annual high-level meetings, as well as maintaining regular contacts between governments, ministries, agencies, and regions.
Expressing his support for the adoption of the Joint Action Plan until 2027, the president of Uzbekistan proposed the preparation of a more detailed roadmap containing specific measures to deepen practical cooperation.
To ensure the timely execution of instructions and to facilitate the preparation and implementation of regional programs and projects, the importance of establishing a Coordinating Council at the level of Deputy Prime Ministers was highlighted.
The main direction of the region’s joint work with Russia should be the significant expansion of economic partnership. The positive dynamics of mutual trade were expressed with satisfaction. According to the results of last year and this year, the trade turnover between Uzbekistan, Russia, and the countries of the region increased by up to 15 percent.
It was proposed that, within the framework of the above-mentioned Coordinating Council, comprehensive measures be developed to increase trade turnover.
This includes facilitating mutual access to commodity markets, simplifying procedures, and launching the “Agroexpress Central Asia - Russia” project.
President Mirziyoyev also emphasized the vital importance of effectively utilizing the transit and transport potential of the participating countries, particularly within the framework of the North - South Corridor.
“We advocate aligning national programs in the fields of road, rail, and air transport and, on this basis, developing a comprehensive plan for infrastructure partnership - a transport and logistics framework for our countries. The ultimate goal should be the creation of an integrated and interconnected regional transport infrastructure that is resilient to external challenges”, the president noted.
Another priority area identified was the development of sustainable production chains and the deepening of industrial cooperation. In this context, it was noted that Uzbekistan is actively expanding industrial partnerships with leading Russian companies, implementing large-scale strategic projects in the gas-chemical industry, and establishing a modern copper processing hub.
At the same time, the enormous potential for expanding cooperation was emphasized, particularly in mechanical engineering, precision instrumentation, chemical, electrical, and mining industries, based on a cluster approach.
To stimulate innovation-oriented cooperation between leading enterprises and the private sector, the President proposed the creation of a Central Asia - Russia Industrial Engineering Hub in the city of Bukhara, which could become a unique technological platform for developing, implementing, and replicating advanced engineering solutions.
The President of Uzbekistan also underscored the importance of making full use of the opportunities provided by the “Innoprom. Central Asia” exhibition and forum held in Tashkent.
The fifth exhibition, held in April of this year, brought together more than 10,000 participants from 35 countries and resulted in agreements worth $5 billion. It was proposed to grant this event the status of the leading industrial and innovation platform within the “Central Asia - Russia” dialogue format.
As the President of Uzbekistan emphasized, energy cooperation with Russia will continue to serve as a factor of stability and resilience for the region. Strategic projects are currently being implemented, including the development of gas pipelines and energy infrastructure.
“In the coming days, a historic event will take place - the launch of joint projects for the construction of the first reactor unit of the future nuclear power plant and a multifunctional Nuclear Medicine Center in Uzbekistan”, the president announced.
It was proposed to establish broad scientific and practical cooperation in this field, specifically, to create a Regional Competence Center for Nuclear Energy in Uzbekistan and to adopt a Personnel Training Program based on the Tashkent branch of the Moscow Engineering Physics Institute.
It was also announced that Uzbekistan intends to expand cooperation in the exploration and processing of hydrocarbons, the modernization of the electric power industry, and the implementation of energy-efficient solutions.
To facilitate the transfer of advanced knowledge and technologies, as well as the development and promotion of joint projects, it was proposed to draft a comprehensive Central Asia - Russia Energy Partnership Program.
In the field of innovation, it was suggested to open branches of the Skolkovo Innovation Center in the countries of the region.
The establishment of a Regional Expert Council on Artificial Intelligence and Digital Technologies was also noted as highly relevant, as it would help consolidate efforts and foster project-based cooperation among leading research centers, organizations, and IT companies.
To strengthen humanitarian cooperation, the initiative was put forward to hold an annual ethnocultural forum - the Festival of Culture, Art, and Creativity of the Peoples of Central Asia and Russia.
In addition, it was proposed to establish a scientific and educational consortium titled “Engineers of the Future”, aimed at uniting the potential of leading universities and research institutions to implement a dual and professional education system and carry out fundamental scientific research projects. It was noted that the successfully operating branches of Russian universities across the region, 15 of which are currently active in Uzbekistan, could serve as the intellectual foundation of the Consortium.
It was also proposed to create a Special Grant Program for young researchers and scientists from Central Asia and Russia.
To promote comprehensive cooperation, the need was emphasized to adopt joint programs focused on maternal and child health protection, social adaptation in the field of labor migration, and increasing tourism flows through regional travel routes.
The president of Uzbekistan also placed particular emphasis on the issues of regional security.
“We consider it important to continue strengthening close cooperation between special services and law enforcement agencies in combating terrorism, extremism, radicalism, organized crime, human trafficking, and drug trafficking. We propose jointly developing measures to counter new cyber threats and challenges”, President Mirziyoyev said.
To coordinate approaches aimed at expanding cooperation and promoting the socioeconomic development of Afghanistan, it was proposed to consider the organization of high-level consultations. The agenda of such meetings could include issues of security cooperation and the implementation of economic projects designed to ensure stability and development in Afghanistan.
In conclusion, the Uzbek president once again reaffirmed the country’s commitment to deepening multifaceted cooperation with Russia, in the interests of security, sustainable development, and prosperity across all states of the region.
