UWED Rector Speaks at DIIS/Asia House in Copenhagen on New Uzbekistan's Foreign Policy and Calls for Closer Cooperation with Nordic Countries

On 2 June 2026, a high-level international seminar titled “Uzbekistan in a Changing Eurasia: Strategic Balancing, Regional Cooperation and Connectivity” was held at Asia House in Copenhagen, Denmark. The event was organized by the Danish Institute for International Studies (DIIS) and brought together policymakers, diplomats, scholars, and members of the expert community to discuss contemporary developments in Central Asia and Uzbekistan’s evolving role in regional and international affairs.

Among the keynote speakers was Sodyq Safoev, Rector of the University of World Economy and Diplomacy (UWED) and Deputy Chairman of the Senate of the Oliy Majlis of the Republic of Uzbekistan. In his remarks, S. Safoev outlined the main principles of the foreign policy of the New Uzbekistan, emphasizing openness, constructive regional engagement, economic connectivity, and pragmatic international cooperation.

Professor Safoev highlighted the growing importance of strengthening ties between Uzbekistan and the Nordic countries in the fields of education, research, innovation, sustainable development, and public governance. He underscored the significant potential for expanding academic and institutional partnerships between universities, research centers, and policy institutions across the two regions.

The seminar also featured presentations by H.E. Rakhmatulla Nurimbetov, Ambassador of the Republic of Uzbekistan to Sweden, Denmark, and Norway, and Professor Timur Dadabaev, Vice Rector for Research and Innovation at UWED. Their presentations examined contemporary trends in Central Asian international relations, regional cooperation, connectivity initiatives, and the broader geopolitical transformations taking place across Eurasia.

The event concluded with a vibrant discussion involving representatives of academia, diplomatic missions, government institutions, think tanks, and civil society organizations. Participants exchanged views on the future of Central Asian cooperation, Uzbekistan’s reform agenda, and new opportunities for engagement between Central Asia and Northern Europe.

The seminar served as an important platform for advancing dialogue between Uzbekistan and the Nordic region and further strengthening UWED’s international academic and policy partnerships.