January 24 this year ISRS held a meeting with a delegation of the Friedrich Ebert Foundation (Germany), in particular, with the regional director of the Friedrich Ebert Foundation (Germany) in Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan Christoph Moor (finishes his mission in the region in January this year) and the new head of this Foundation in Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan by Philip Jahn.

During the talks, the parties discussed the ongoing socio-political and socio-economic transformations in Uzbekistan, the state and prospects for the development of Uzbek-German partnerships. A thorough exchange of views on cooperation between the ISRS and the Foundation in 2023 was held.

Christoph Moor highly appreciated the steady and consistent course of the leadership of Uzbekistan on reforms aimed at cardinal modernization of the national economy and further democratization of society. According to him, Germany is closely watching the dynamic processes taking place in all spheres of life in the country. As a result, he emphasized, the atmosphere of friendship and good neighborliness created by the efforts of the active foreign policy of President Shavkat Mirziyoyev in Central Asia contributed to the development of regional integration processes.

At the meeting, it was especially emphasized that Germany is an important and long-term partner of Uzbekistan. In recent years, Uzbek-German relations have acquired a trusting and systemic character, including at the highest level. A powerful impetus to this was given by the official visit of President Shavkat Mirziyoyev to Germany in 2019 and the return visit of the Federal President of Germany Frank-Walter Steinmeier to Uzbekistan.

It was noted that thanks to joint efforts over the past 5 years, trade between Uzbekistan and Germany increased by 24%, reaching $762.7 million in 2021 ($613.2 million in 2017). The export of Uzbek products to Germany increased by 55% in Germany, mainly due to granting our country the status of a beneficiary of the EU's Generalized System of Preferences "GSP +".

The participants also emphasized the established active dialogue between the countries in the investment, cultural, humanitarian, educational and other fields.

The interlocutors paid special attention to the discussion of cooperation between the ISRS and the Friedrich Ebert Foundation. Interest was expressed in developing effective cooperation on a wide range of issues related to transport connectivity, climate change, energy, and the situation in Afghanistan.

The parties expressed confidence that the planned joint events would contribute to the fullest disclosure of the existing potential of bilateral contacts.