On November 20, 2025, an off-site session of the Primakov Readings International Forum, entitled "Central Asia: Global Challenges for Regional Development," was held in Tashkent. This was the third meeting held outside the Russian Federation and the first time it was held in a Central Asian country.

The meeting included four thematic sessions: 1) Central Asia in a Transforming World Order; 2) Horizons of Cooperation and Competition in Central Asia; 3) Trends in Global Resource Markets: Energy, Water, and Rare Earth Metals; 4) Risks and Opportunities for the Security of Greater Eurasia.

Akramjon Nematov, First Deputy Director of the Institute for Strategic and Regional Studies under the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan (ISRS), participated in the meeting and moderated the session entitled: "Trends in global resource markets: energy resources, water, rare earth metals."

Discussion participants noted that rising consumption and increasing demand for energy resources are becoming a persistent trend. At the same time, global resource markets remain characterized by instability, driven by global turbulence resulting from geopolitical tensions, the reconfiguration of supply chains, and the reformatting of the energy market.

It was noted that, against the backdrop of growing fossil fuel production and its oversupply on the market, oil and gas prices will remain low in the foreseeable future, which will primarily benefit energy-importing countries.

According to experts, in the context of increasing and long-term competition, diversification of energy sources is becoming an important factor in the sustainability of national economies. It was emphasized that maintaining the stability of energy systems requires a balance in the use of various energy sources, their effective integration into a unified power grid, and a comprehensive approach to managing the entire energy sector.

It was emphasized that it is important for Central Asian countries to continue coordinating their efforts to create a common energy market. In the face of growing energy demand and climate change, it is essential to implement renewable energy sources, ensuring a balance between sustainable development and ecosystem preservation.

Summarizing the discussions, Akramjon Nematov noted that resources are a key factor in the sustainable growth of states today, and the main problem is not their scarcity, but the lack of trust and cooperation based on mutual benefit. In this regard, he emphasized the importance of strengthening trust and mutually beneficial cooperation so that resources do not become an object of competition, but rather a source of shared development.

The event was organized by the International Institute of Central Asia in partnership with the Primakov National Research Institute of World Economy and International Relations of the Russian Academy of Sciences.

Among the participants of the discussion were the Advisor to the President of Uzbekistan, Abdulaziz Kamilov, the President of IMEMO RAS, Alexander Dynkin, as well as representatives of leading research institutes from Russia, India, China, Serbia, the USA, Turkiye, and the countries of Central Asia. The event was also attended by members of the diplomatic corps and the academic community, including professors, lecturers, and young researchers.

The “Primakov Readings” forum has been held since 2015 and is a reputable international discussion platform where the most pressing issues of the global economy, politics, and international security are discussed.