On August 18-20 this year, a high-level meeting of Uzbekistan, Azerbaijan and Europe was held in Tashkent under the slogan “Cooperation for common development”.

The event was organized by the Institute for Strategic and Regional Studies under the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan, the Agency for Strategic Reforms under the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan and the Nizami Ganjavi International Center with the assistance of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Uzbekistan.

The forum was attended by more than 30 distinguished guests, including former heads of state and government of countries such as Norway, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Latvia, Croatia, Austria and the Czech Republic. In addition, representatives of leading international organizations - the UN, the World Bank, as well as the Shanghai Cooperation Organization - joined the event.

The main purpose of the meeting was to discuss current areas of cooperation between Uzbekistan, Azerbaijan and European countries. Participants stressed the importance of strengthening policy dialogue, expanding economic and transport links, jointly responding to climate challenges and developing cooperation in the field of innovation and digital technologies. The forum was also aimed at deepening academic and expert cooperation, as well as creating new platforms for interregional partnership.

The event was attended by the First Deputy Chairman of the Senate of the Oliy Majlis, Rector of the University of World Economy and Diplomacy Sodyq Safoev, who made a presentation at the panel session “The Geopolitical Role of Central Asia in a Changing World”. In his speech, he emphasized the key factors determining the strategic importance of the region, and emphasized the place of Central Asia in the emerging system of international relations. His report made a significant contribution to the discussion on modern problems and prospects for cooperation.

Participation in this forum was another confirmation of the active contribution of Uzbek academic and expert institutions to the development of international dialogue. The high-level meeting in Tashkent showed the relevance of Central Asia as a platform for exchanging ideas, finding new solutions and strengthening mutual understanding between the regions.