On August 18, a high-level meeting between Uzbekistan, Azerbaijan, and Europe kicked off in Tashkent under the slogan “Cooperation for Common Development.” The forum will go on until August 20.

The event is 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 Nizami Ganjavi International Center with the assistance of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Uzbekistan.

The forum is attended by more than 30 high-ranking 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, and the Shanghai Cooperation Organization - have joined the event.

The Uzbek side was represented at the Meeting by the leadership of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Transport, Environment and Climate Change, Digital Technologies, Economy and Finance of the Republic of Uzbekistan, as well as the country's leading analytical centers.

The agenda of the event covered a wide range of topical issues related to deepening cooperation between Uzbekistan, Azerbaijan and Europe in the economic, scientific, innovative and transport spheres. Particular attention was paid to issues of interregional integration, as well as the development of joint approaches to long-term sustainable development.

At the opening ceremony of the High-Level Meeting, an address by the President of Uzbekistan, Shavkat Mirziyoyev, was read out. In his welcoming remarks, the Head of State expressed his gratitude to the Nizami Ganjavi International Center for organizing a dialogue on pressing issues on the international agenda. It was emphasized that “Nizami Ganjavi's profound philosophy and ideas about harmony between man and the surrounding world and justice are of particular importance in today's difficult conditions.”

The message highlights the importance of the event's agenda – the interconnection between Central Asia and the South Caucasus, as well as the prospects for cooperation between these regions and Europe. The head of state sees this dialogue as a unique opportunity to widely present Central Asia to the world, where consolidation and cooperation processes are gaining momentum today.

During the discussions, the distinguished guests paid special attention to the role of Uzbekistan in strengthening regional cooperation.

Thus, the Chairperson of the 73rd session of the UN General Assembly, Maria Fernanda Espinosa, noted that Uzbekistan is rapidly becoming an important player in the region. "Under the leadership of President Shavkat Mirziyoyev and his reformist policies, the "New Uzbekistan" is positioned in the world as a country of great opportunities and a bridge between cultures, civilizations and states," the politician emphasized.

Former Deputy Prime Minister of Georgia Eka Tkeshelashvili shares a similar opinion, noting that Uzbekistan has recently become a regional center of political and diplomatic activity. "The course taken by Shavkat Mirziyoyev has contributed to fundamental positive changes in the dynamics of interstate relations in Central Asia," she added.

Former Serbian President Boris Tadić pointed out that “it is impossible to imagine Central Asia, its sustainable development and stability without Uzbekistan, a key player in the region, with a rich history and strategic position.” “It is here, in the very heart of Central Asia, that the foundations of new ideas and initiatives aimed at strengthening regional cooperation are laid,” he is convinced.

In general, the participants of the Meeting were unanimous in the opinion that the transformations in Uzbekistan and active regional policy contribute to the transformation of Central Asia into a driving force for sustainable development in the Eurasian space. The Forum became an important platform for dialogue and the development of new approaches to multilateral cooperation.