An article by Eldor Aripov, Director of the Institute for Strategic and Regional Studies under the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan, focusing on the outcomes of the first session of the Fergana Peace Forum, has been published on the leading European news portals Berlin Tribune and London Post.

The author of the article notes that the transformation taking place in Central Asia has not been accidental. Its driving force has been political pragmatism — guided by the principles of cooperation and shared prosperity, rather than rivalry and confrontation.

“At the center of this process stands the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan, Shavkat Mirziyoyev, whose reform-oriented and regionally focused agenda has helped redefine the course of Central Asia’s development,” the article emphasizes.

It is noted that the signing of the Declaration of Eternal Friendship and the Treaty on the Junction Point of State Borders in March 2025 marked a historic milestone, bringing an end to decades of mutual distrust.

“Under the leadership of President Shavkat Mirziyoyev, Uzbekistan has become the initiator of a policy of openness, border reconciliation, and joint infrastructure projects. His pragmatic approach — focused on expanding trade, transport connectivity, and people-to-people ties — has inspired Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan to adopt similar models of cooperation,” the article states.

The publication also reports that in recent years, agreements have been reached to ensure a fair distribution of the waters of the Amu Darya and Syr Darya rivers, including a landmark agreement signed in May 2025 on water use during the vegetation period. According to the author, these measures symbolize a shift from competition over unilateral use toward cooperation based on shared rules. For local communities, this means predictability in agriculture, stability in border villages, and strengthened mutual trust among nations.

In this context, the article highlights the Fergana Peace Forum, held in October in Fergana for the first time at the initiative of the President of Uzbekistan.

“With the participation of local authorities, women’s and youth organizations, the forum sent an important message to the world: peace in Central Asia is being built not by external forces, but by the peoples and leaders of the region themselves. The active engagement of civil society underscored that lasting peace is built from the bottom up — with every voice contributing,” the author writes.

The article adds that the forum concluded with a communiqué proposing to make the Fergana Peace Forum a permanent platform, with future meetings to be held alternately in Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan.

The publication also provides data on the region’s recent progress:

“Today, the Fergana Valley is experiencing an economic revival that only a few years ago seemed impossible. Once constrained by border barriers, the region has transformed into a hub of textile, agricultural, and cross-border trade. The gross regional product of the Uzbek part of the valley has quadrupled over the past eight years, reaching nearly $20 billion. Exports have increased 2.4 times to $2.7 billion, while cross-border trade with Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan has tripled to $1.6 billion. Between 2017 and 2024, the region attracted $31.2 billion in investments, created nearly 1 million new jobs, and reduced poverty from 13.9% to 8.6%.”

At a time when the world is gripped by new conflicts, the quiet success of the Fergana Valley deserves international recognition. Today, Central Asia offers a unique example of pragmatic leadership, regional unity, and the power of peoples who have chosen to live in peace and harmony.