Uzbekistan has established a strong foundation for the timely and high-quality achievement of national goals and sustainable development tasks

Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) represent a universal plan for a better future for all of humanity. Under the auspices of the United Nations, in 2015, all member states adopted 17 interconnected goals. These goals are primarily aimed at eradicating poverty, protecting our planet, improving the quality of life, and enhancing prospects for all people.

In Uzbekistan, in 2022, Cabinet of Ministers Resolution No. 83 "On Additional Measures to Accelerate the Implementation of National Goals and Tasks in the Field of Sustainable Development for the Period up to 2030" was adopted. This reaffirms Uzbekistan's firm commitment to achieving the global Agenda for the period up to 2030 in comprehensive partnership with all UN member states to implement the sixteen national sustainable development goals.

The National Goals and Tasks in the Field of Sustainable Development for the Period up to 2030, the Action Plan for the Effective Implementation of National Goals and Tasks in the Field of Sustainable Development for the Period 2022–2026, as well as Uzbekistan's National Development Strategies, all serve the realization of Sustainable Development Goals.

To organize systematic work towards achieving the Sustainable Development Goals, the government of Uzbekistan has established a special coordination council, including the Parliamentary Commission for Monitoring the Implementation of National Goals and Tasks in the Field of Sustainable Development of the Republic of Uzbekistan for the Period up to 2030. As a result, sustainable development goals have been balanced with developed and implementable strategies, concepts, and roadmaps for the economic, social, and environmental development of the country and its regions.

The strengthening of parliamentary control in achieving the SDGs is the outcome of the United Nations General Assembly resolution of December 14, 2022, which approved the initiative of the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan regarding "Enhancing the Role of Parliaments in Accelerating the Achievement of Sustainable Development Goals."

         The results achieved in the implementation of Uzbekistan's national goals and tasks have been approved and recognized by the international community.

The primary principle of the new Uzbekistan, "In the Name of Human Honor and Dignity," aligns with the UN principle of sustainable development, "Leave No One Behind."

According to the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) Inter-agency Task Force on Financing for Development report, in 2023, Uzbekistan ranked 69th out of 166 countries in the Sustainable Development Goals Index, marking an 8-point increase in its ranking.

The SDR Index report highlights positive growth in sustainable development indicators for 11 out of 16 goals in Uzbekistan. This includes poverty reduction, food security and nutrition, health and well-being, quality education, gender equality, clean water and sanitation, industrialization, innovation and infrastructure, sustainable cities and communities, climate action, peace, justice, and effective institutions.

The Voluntary National Reviews prepared in 2020 and 2023 on the implementation of Uzbekistan's national goals and tasks for sustainable development until 2023 were positively assessed by the UN.

Uzbekistan has achieved significant results in all Sustainable Development Goals, which have been balanced and interconnected with the implementation of the "Action Strategy on the Five Priority Areas of Development of the Republic of Uzbekistan for 2017–2021."

Specifically, Uzbekistan has achieved the following results regarding the Sustainable Development Goals:

Goal 1: Uzbekistan has taken measures aimed at substantially reducing poverty.

These measures involved the development of legislative, institutional, and economic mechanisms to address and combat poverty. From 2015 to 2022, the national poverty rate decreased from 30.4% to 14.1%. The coverage of the population receiving social benefits increased from 0.8% to 2.5% during this period, with a sevenfold increase in government spending.

Goal 2: Significant efforts have been made to ensure food security and nutrition.

Uzbekistan ranked first in the Top 10 countries with the most progress in food security in 2019-2022, according to the Global Food Security Index. Extensive work has been done in land relations, with 400,000 dehkans (small-scale farmers) receiving 100,000 hectares of arable land, enabling the additional production of 1.5 million tons of food products.

Goal 3: Measures have been implemented to promote a healthy lifestyle and well-being for all at all ages.

From 2015 to 2022, the maternal mortality rate decreased from 18.9 to 13.9, child mortality in children under 5 years decreased from 15.1 to 11.4 per 1,000 live births, and infant mortality decreased from 7.9 to 4.5 per 1,000 live births. In 2022, the incidence rate of newly detected tuberculosis was 46.9 per 100,000 populations, which is an 11.6% decrease compared to 2015.

Goal 4: Extensive work has been done to provide comprehensive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities.

There is a sustainable trend of increasing the enrollment of children aged 3 to 6 in pre-school education (from 20.8% in 2015 to 68.3% in 2022). The percentage of schools with internet access and computers for educational purposes increased to 99.7% in 2022 (compared to 87.9% in 2017). The percentage of young women with higher education increased fivefold from 2015 to 2022, and the percentage of youth aged 18-27 with higher education increased from 8% to 30%. The number of functioning higher education institutions increased from 69 in 2015 to 199 in 2022.

Goal 5: Significant progress has been made in promoting gender equality and expanding the rights and opportunities of all women and girls.

In 2022, according to the Women, Business, and the Law Index by the World Bank, Uzbekistan was among the 27 countries that implemented significant reforms in the field of women's rights and gender equality. Exceptional results were attained in specific components, notably in areas such as women's mobility, entrepreneurship, and assets. The percentage of women in the Legislative Chamber of the Oliy Majlis increased from 16% in 2015 to 28.2% in 2022, and in leadership positions, it increased from 27.7% to 28.2%, respectively.

Goal 6: Targeted measures have been implemented to conserve and sustainably use water resources and promote sanitation.

The percentage of the population with centralized drinking water supply increased by 5.2 percentage points over the last 7 years and reached 69.7% in 2022. The indicator for the "degree of integrated water resources management" increased from 49 to 56 during this period.

Goal 7: Positive changes have occurred in ensuring access to modern sources of energy.

The percentage of the population with access to electricity is 100%, and the use of clean energy sources increased from 94.5% in 2015 to 97.3% in 2022.

Goal 8: Measures have been taken to promote sustainable economic growth.

The growth rate of real GDP per capita was 2.7% in 2017 and 5.6% in 2022. GDP per employed person increased by 1.9 times.

Goal 9: Steps have been taken to create sustainable infrastructure, promote comprehensive and sustainable industrialization, and foster innovation.

From 2015 to 2022, passenger traffic increased from 120.1 to 146.5 billion passenger kilometers, including road traffic from 109.1 to 131.0 billion passenger kilometers, and air traffic from 6.8 to 10.9 billion passenger kilometers. The value added in the manufacturing industry as a percentage of the country's GDP per capita increased from 14.1% in 2015 to 20.5% in 2022. The percentage of the population covered by mobile networks using 3G/4G technology increased from 70% to 95% in the last three years.

Goal 10: Reduction of social inequality in all its forms within the country has been achieved.

From 2019 to 2021, the growth rate of household income per capita among the least affluent 40% of the population increased from 16.9% to 22.4%.

Goal 11: Specific measures have been taken to ensure environmental sustainability and the comprehensive development of cities and human settlements.

The construction of housing has been significantly expanded, leading to an increase in the availability of housing per capita from 15.7 square meters per person in 2015 to 18.2 square meters per person in 2022. During this time, more than 300,000 apartments and individual residential houses were constructed, which is ten times more than in the previous years of independence.

Goal 12: Measures have been taken to transition to rational consumption and production patterns.

The generation of toxic waste of classes 1-3 danger on a per capita basis decreased from 13.1 kg in 2019 to 8.0 kg in 2022.

Goal 13: Concrete measures have been taken to combat climate change and its consequences.

According to the international EDGAR database, in 2021, Uzbekistan's carbon intensity of GDP was 0.465 tons of CO2 per $1,000 of GDP at PPP (in constant 2017 prices), which decreased by 7.0% compared to 2019. Afforestation has been established on an area of more than 1.5 million hectares on the dried seabed of the Aral Sea.

Goal 15: Specific measures have been implemented for the protection and restoration of terrestrial ecosystems and the rational use of forests.

The forest area as a percentage of Uzbekistan's total land area increased from 8.3% to 8.7% over 7 years. The proportion of protected areas increased by 2.0 times.

Goal 16: Significant work has been done to promote the building of a peaceful and open society.

In the World Bank's 2021 World Governance Indicators (WGI) index, Uzbekistan improved its position in all six components. In particular, in terms of "Government Effectiveness," Uzbekistan ranked 116th out of 208 countries, improving its previous ranking by 22 positions. In the United Nations e-Government Development Index in 2022, Uzbekistan rose to the 69th position out of 193 countries, up from the 81st position in 2019, due to the accelerated adoption of digital technologies.

Goal 17: Positive shifts have been achieved in global integration and targeted increases in resources directed towards sustainable development.

Uzbekistan has opened its doors to cooperation with all countries, including Central Asian countries. Over 7 years, the overall share of government revenues as a percentage of GDP has increased from 16.5% to 22.7%. The percentage of the population using the Internet from 2017 to 2022 increased from 48.7% to 83.9%.

In summary, Uzbekistan has established a strong foundation for the timely and high-quality achievement of its national sustainable development goals and tasks by 2030. Based on the achievements made, the following steps are envisaged for achieving these national goals and sustainable development tasks:

Full alignment of national sustainable development goals and tasks with the Development Strategy of the New Uzbekistan until 2030. The priority areas identified include: creating favorable conditions for unlocking the potential of every individual; ensuring the well-being of the population through sustainable economic growth; preserving water resources and environmental protection; upholding the rule of law and establishing a government oriented toward serving the people; and consistently pursuing a policy based on the principle of a "Safe and Peaceful State."

Expanding the participation of civil society institutions in monitoring and assessing the results of achieving national goals and tasks. This involves taking into account proposals and recommendations from private entrepreneurs and residents of different regions of the country to enhance the effectiveness of measures taken.

Increasing public awareness and the population's knowledge about the efforts being made to achieve national goals and tasks. Regularly conducting special sociological surveys in cities, districts, and mahallas (local communities) about priority measures to meet the needs and requirements of the population, based on sustainable development measures.

Expanding the opportunities for state budgeting of measures to achieve Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), especially in addressing socio-economic challenges such as poverty reduction, social stratification, targeted social protection, improving the quality of education and healthcare services, gender equality, and addressing social risks and climate change-related issues, as well as ensuring food, energy, and environmental security.

Continuing the dialogue between the state and the private sector, international organizations, and further expanding international cooperation with all countries worldwide, including those in Central Asia. This includes implementing UN initiatives proposed by Uzbekistan for regional cooperation and enhancing the role of parliaments in ensuring the rights of youth integrated with the SDGs.

Uzbekistan-UN: Cooperation for Universal Sustainable Development

On September 19, 2023, President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev will take part in the general debate of the 78th session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York.

Uzbekistan joined the UN as a new sovereign, independent state on March 2, 1992. Since joining this universal international organization, our country has been productively cooperating with it and its specialized institutions in various areas.

The main priorities of multilateral cooperation are the fight against modern threats and security challenges, the stabilization and restoration of Afghanistan, the non-proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, solving environmental problems, in particular mitigating the consequences of the Aral Sea crisis, socio-economic development, protection and promotion of human rights, tourism development, and others.

According to experts, in recent years, Uzbekistan has become more involved in the activities of the General Assembly and specialized agencies of the UN. In particular, the head of Uzbekistan made speeches at the 72nd, 75th, and 76th sessions of the UN General Assembly, as well as at the High-Level Segment of the 46th session of the UN Human Rights Council.

In June 2017, the visit of UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres and his negotiations with the President of Uzbekistan, Shavkat Mirziyoyev, took place. The head of our state also held meetings with the UN Secretary General in September 2017 in New York (USA) and during the 2nd International Forum "One Belt, One Road" in April 2019 in Beijing (PRC). As a result of these meetings, plans for practical measures to develop cooperation between Uzbekistan and the UN were adopted and are being implemented.

The participation of President Shavkat Mirziyoyev in the general debates of the 72nd session of the General Assembly in September 2017 opened a new stage of productive and mutually beneficial cooperation between our country and the UN. During this event, a number of important international initiatives were put forward, which have been successfully implemented over the past three years.

From the UN rostrum, the leader of Uzbekistan put forward a number of important international initiatives on current issues on the global and regional agenda. In particular, on the initiative of the leadership of Uzbekistan, six resolutions were developed and adopted within the UN General Assembly: "Strengthening regional international cooperation to ensure peace, stability, and sustainable development in the Central Asian region" (June 2018), "Education and religious tolerance" (December 2018), "Sustainable tourism and development in Central Asia" (December 2019), "On declaring the Aral Sea region a zone of environmental innovation and technology" (May 2021), "On strengthening interconnectedness between Central and South Asia" (July 2022), "On the role of parliaments in achieving the SDGs" (December 2022).

In addition, within the framework of the UN Human Rights Council, at the initiative of Uzbekistan, a resolution was adopted "On the consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic for the human rights of youth" (October 2021) and at UNESCO - "The Khiva Process" (November 2021) following the results of the international forum "Central Asia at the crossroads of world civilizations" (September 14–16, 2021, Khiva).

The Code on Voluntary Commitments of States during Pandemics, developed by the Uzbek side, has been distributed as an official document of the UN General Assembly as Uzbekistan’s contribution to the global efforts to combat COVID-19.

Supporting the new spirit of multilateral interaction, Uzbekistan, together with member countries, is currently developing drafts for a number of General Assembly resolutions for their further adoption within the UN.

Since 1993, the UN office has been operating in Tashkent. In Uzbekistan, the "UN family" is represented by the United Nations Development Program (UNDP), the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF), the World Health Organization (WHO), and the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO),  United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC),  UN Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women (UN Women), UN Regional Center for Preventive Diplomacy in Central Asia (UNRCCA), International Labor Organization (ILO) ), the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), the International Organization for Migration (IOM), and the UN Volunteers Program led by UNDP.

Agencies such as the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO), the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP), and the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) also contribute to the work of the UN system. The World Bank, as an independent specialized agency of the UN system, also makes a significant contribution to the work of the organization in our country.

The United Nations Development Assistance Framework (UNDAF) for Uzbekistan is an effective tool for interaction between the government of Uzbekistan and the international community in the context of the implementation of priority areas of socio-economic development in the country in the medium term.

As part of the implementation of the main tasks defined in the Development Strategy of New Uzbekistan, political contacts between Uzbekistan and the UN at the highest levels have noticeably intensified in recent years.

Uzbekistan attaches particular importance to efforts to put an end to the many years of bloody war in Afghanistan, which have brought enormous disasters to the Afghan people and become a source of serious threats to the entire region. Our country makes an effective contribution to the implementation of UN programs for the post-conflict reconstruction of Afghanistan; in particular, it has opened a bridge on the Uzbek-Afghan border for international deliveries of humanitarian supplies and is assisting in the construction of many infrastructure facilities on the territory of Afghanistan.

Uzbekistan provides all possible assistance to international organizations and individual countries in carrying out their humanitarian activities in Afghanistan through Termez. Thus, on the initiative of the leadership of Uzbekistan, an International Transport and Logistics Hub was created in Termez to ensure centralized and targeted delivery of humanitarian goods to Afghanistan. The opportunities in Termez are actively used by the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees and the World Food Program.

As a result of the Tashkent Conference on Afghanistan, held in March 2018, its final declaration was circulated in April of the same year as an official document of the 72nd session of the UN General Assembly and Security Council. In addition, information about the efforts made by the leadership of Uzbekistan to peacefully resolve the situation in Afghanistan and mention of the Tashkent Conference were included in the report of the UN Secretary-General, "The Situation in Afghanistan and its Implications for International Peace and Security," published in September 2018.

The holding of a conference around Afghanistan in July 2022 in Tashkent also became a great contribution of Uzbekistan to ensuring sustainable peace and stability in this country.

Currently, work is being carried out within the UN to promote the initiative of the President of Uzbekistan to create an International Negotiating Group on Afghanistan.

Cooperation between Uzbekistan and the UN on issues of ecology and environmental protection is intensifying. In this area, President Shavkat Mirziyoyev draws attention to another acute and urgently solving planetary problem—the tragedy of the Aral Sea—and calls for focusing the efforts of the world community on "reducing the destructive impact of this environmental disaster on the livelihoods of millions of people living in Central Asia and preserving the natural and biological balance in the Aral Sea region."

In accordance with the initiative of the President of Uzbekistan, put forward during the general debates of the 72nd session of the UN General Assembly, in 2018, under the auspices of the UN, a Multi-Partner Trust Fund (MPTF) on human security for the Aral Sea region was created, the presentation of which took place in November 2018 at the headquarters of the organization’s apartment with the participation of its Secretary General António Guterres.

As the UN chief stated during the presentation, "this structure will significantly improve the living conditions of the local population and will contribute to the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals."

At the initiative of our country and jointly with the UN Office in Uzbekistan, on October 24–25, 2019, an International High-Level Conference on Declaring the Aral Sea Region a Zone of Environmental Innovation and Technology was held in Nukus. About 250 participants from 28 countries, including leaders and representatives of authoritative international organizations, took part in it.

On December 19, 2019, the UN General Assembly at its plenary session adopted a special resolution "Sustainable Tourism and Sustainable Development in Central Asia," the initiative of which was put forward by President Shavkat Mirziyoyev in April 2019 in Beijing during a meeting with UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres. The draft document, developed by Uzbekistan and submitted on behalf of all five Central Asian countries, was unanimously supported by all UN member states. The document was co-authored by over 50 countries in North and Latin America, Asia, Africa, and other continents, which indicates widespread recognition by the international community of the relevance and timeliness of the initiative of the leader of Uzbekistan.

In Uzbekistan’s interaction with the UN, special attention is paid to the issues of preserving and strengthening religious tolerance and solving pressing problems related to the lives of young people. The head of our state, during the 72nd session of the UN General Assembly in New York, put forward an initiative to develop and adopt the UN General Assembly resolution "Enlightenment and religious tolerance."

Speaking from the high rostrum of the UN, President Shavkat Mirziyoyev said that the main goal of the resolution proposed by Uzbekistan is "to ensure universal access to education and the elimination of illiteracy and ignorance." The document is intended to "promote tolerance and mutual respect, ensure religious freedom, protect the rights of believers, and prevent discrimination against them."

In accordance with profound transformations in all spheres of society, Uzbekistan for the first time nominated its candidacy for the UN Human Rights Council (HRC) for 2021-2023 and, with the support of the majority of states, became a member of the leading and most authoritative international body in the field of human rights protection.

Uzbekistan’s cooperation with UNESCO deserves special attention, which has risen to a qualitatively new level in recent years. In 2018, in Paris, in 2019, in Samarkand, and in 2022, in Tashkent, meetings between President Shavkat Mirziyoyev and UNESCO Director General Audrey Azoulay took place.

In 2021, in collaboration with UNESCO, the International Advisory Committee on the Protection of Historical Heritage Sites was created. In the same year, in Khiva, on the initiative of Uzbekistan and together with UNESCO, the International Cultural Forum "Central Asia: At the Crossroads of World Civilizations" was organized. The resolution "Khiva Process: Further Development of Cooperation in Central Asia," developed as a result of this forum, was unanimously adopted by the UNESCO General Conference at its 41st session in November 2021.

In July 2022, Uzbekistan, for the first time in its history, became a member of the Intergovernmental Committee for the Safeguarding of Intangible Cultural Heritage for 2022–2026,

On November 14–16, 2022, the second UNESCO World Conference on Early Childhood Care and Education was held in Tashkent with the participation of UNESCO Director-General Audrey Azoulay, representatives of about 150 countries, and officials of international organizations. Following the 216th session of the UNESCO Executive Board, held on May 10–24, 2023, in Paris, the resolution "Implementation of the Tashkent Declaration and commitments to take measures to transform early childhood care and education" was unanimously adopted.

12 elements of Uzbek culture are included in the UNESCO Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity: Shashmakom, the cultural space of Boysun, Katta Ashula, the art of wit Askiya, the traditions and culture associated with pilaf, the traditions of celebrating Navruz, the preservation of traditional technologies for the production of atlases and adras at the Margilan Center for the Development of Crafts, Lazgi, miniature art, Bakhshi art, sericulture, and traditional silk production, and traditional stories about Khoja Nasreddin.

International tourism is actively developing in our country. Cooperation with the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO), which Uzbekistan joined in 1993, plays an important role in this. The UNWTO regional center for tourism development on the Great Silk Road operates in Samarkand. The International University of Tourism "Silk Road" has also been established in Samarkand, which is one of the most famous and prestigious institutions of higher education and the first university in the field of tourism in Uzbekistan.

The 25th session of the UNWTO General Assembly will be held in Samarkand on October 16–20, 2023.

There is active cooperation with the World Health Organization (WHO) in the fight against infectious and non-infectious diseases, promoting a healthy lifestyle, and strengthening the national health care system. The framework for cooperation between Uzbekistan and WHO is a two-year cooperation agreement between the Ministry of Health of Uzbekistan and the WHO Regional Office for Europe.

Delegations from Uzbekistan regularly participate in sessions of the World Health Assembly and the WHO Regional Office for Europe.

Since 2021, WHO has been the lead organization to assist the country in implementing health sector reform and piloting it in a pilot region (Syr Darya), including the introduction of public health insurance.

In recent years, the efforts of the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) in Uzbekistan have significantly intensified. In November 2022, the forum was successfully held in Tashkent with the International Public Foundation "Zamin" "Ensuring children’s rights to a healthy environment", dedicated to World Children’s Day.

On February 11, 2021, in New York, during a session of the UNICEF Executive Board, a new Country Cooperation Program of the Fund for Uzbekistan until 2025 was approved.

The Population Fund (UNFPA) occupies a significant place in the UN system in Uzbekistan in the implementation of programs in the areas of population and reproductive health. Uzbekistan is carrying out productive work with the fund by preparing and conducting a population census.

At the current stage, the fifth UNFPA country program is being implemented, within the framework of which various trainings, seminars, and conferences on reproductive health are being held. Centers for social and legal support for women have been created in the country, and work is underway to update clinical protocols, modernize medical institutions, and train and improve the qualifications of specialists.

In November 2022, together with UNFPA, a Demographic Laboratory was launched in the Republic to strengthen the capacity of government officials on population issues and the development of demographic science and research.

There is an intensification of interaction between Uzbekistan and the United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women (UN Women). Together with this structure, international forums and conferences on gender and youth issues are organized, projects are implemented in specialized areas, and measures are taken to fully support Uzbekistan’s efforts to increase the role of women in society.

The International Labor Organization (ILO) highly appreciates the progress achieved in Uzbekistan in recent years to create conditions for decent work, eradicate forced and child labor, and protect the rights and freedoms of workers. Our country has ratified 20 ILO conventions, including nine out of the 10 fundamental ones. Taking into account the recommendations of the ILO, a new edition of the Law "On Employment" and a new edition of the Labor Code were developed and adopted.

Currently, the country program on decent work of the Republic of Uzbekistan for 2021–2025 is being implemented, which includes such areas as improving the legal framework regulating labor relations, expanding opportunities for education, employment, and decent work for youth, women, and vulnerable groups of the population, and strengthening the institutional capacity of social dialogue and partners.

In recent years, the International Organization for Migration (IOM) has become one of our country’s significant partners. Currently, the Road Map for the Development of Cooperation between Uzbekistan and IOM is being implemented. Together with the IOM, projects on labor migration, border management, combating human trafficking, and improving the skills of specialists in recruiting labor migrants are being implemented in the republic.

In short, the efforts of our country are fully supported by the leadership and member countries of the UN, since the initiatives put forward by the Uzbek side are consistent with the goals of the global organization, including the Sustainable Development Goals, aimed at strengthening peace, stability, and prosperity on our planet.

As an active supporter of lasting peace and an initiator of a comprehensive expansion of cooperation in the international arena, Uzbekistan always pays great attention to interaction with the UN and its specialized structures.

Undoubtedly, the participation of President Shavkat Mirziyoyev at the World Leaders’ Forum will allow Uzbekistan to announce new important ideas and initiatives that will serve to solve the global problems of our time in the name of universal sustainable development.

Information agency “Dunyo”

Tashkent

Uzbekistan-United States: striving to develop and strengthen bilateral and multilateral dialogue

In the framework of participation in the plenary session of the UN General Assembly in New York, President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev will take part in the first «C5+1» summit in New York.

The «C5+1» format is a regular multilateral dialog between Central Asian countries and the United States. The first meeting of the foreign ministers of the region and the United States took place in November 2015 in Samarkand, marking the beginning of this dialog.

The aim of the format is to maintain a continuous exchange of views on topical issues, as well as to improve regional trade, strengthen transportation and energy ties, develop business climate, combat environmental challenges, counter extremism, and expand humanitarian ties.

The first ministerial meeting of the «C5+1» resulted in the adoption of a «Joint Declaration of Partnership and Cooperation,» which notes the U.S. commitment to support the sovereignty, independence, and territorial integrity of the Central Asian states and the willingness of the participating countries to maintain regular communications.

To date, 12 ministerial meetings have taken place. In September 2021, ministers from the «C5+1» country met for the first time to discuss climate and environmental issues.

The «C5+1» is implementing projects aimed at developing entrepreneurship, improving transportation and trade corridors, developing the energy of the future and supporting national climate change adaptation plans.

Implementation of these projects is carried out in the form of seminars, conferences and trainings. In April 2022, in order to institutionalize interaction in the «C5+1» format, the Secretariat of this platform started its work. Its main goal is to coordinate interaction within the framework of the «C5+1» format, to solve organizational issues of the events, as well as to prepare proposals for the development of cooperation between the countries of Central Asia and the United States.

To discuss cooperation in specific areas within the framework of «C5+1», annual meetings of working groups are held in three areas - economy, environmental protection and energy, and security.

Given that Central Asia has been identified by Uzbekistan as a foreign policy priority, interaction within the framework of the «C5+1» format is important, as it is a significant factor directly influencing positive integration processes in the region.

In this context, it cannot be overlooked that along with effective interaction within this format, Uzbek-American bilateral cooperation has been consistently strengthening. The first official visit of President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev to the United States on May 15-17, 2018, laid the foundation for a new era of strategic partnership between the two countries.

Over the past six years, the exchange of high-level delegations, interagency and interparliamentary ties, and trade, economic and investment cooperation have intensified.

The U.S. House of Representatives has formed and actively operates the Caucus on Uzbekistan, an informal group of congressmen who advocate the intensification of U.S.-Uzbek relations.

The number of enterprises with the participation of American investors is growing in Uzbekistan. Examples of successful economic cooperation include the active work in our country of such concerns and companies as «General Electric», «General Motors», «Hyatt», «John Deere», «Boeing», «Honeywell», «Coca Cola», «Calatrava», «Silverleaf» and others.

The United States recognizes the progress made by Uzbekistan in the protection of human rights. Thanks to the fundamental reforms carried out in our country, the so-called «cotton boycott» by the NGO Cotton Campaign against Uzbekistan has been lifted.

Nowadays, thousands of Uzbek people work and study in the United States. They have the opportunity to cherish their customs and culture and to interact cohesively through diaspora organizations and cultural associations.

Strengthening intercultural dialogue is facilitated by twinning relations between the cities of Tashkent and Seattle, Bukhara and Santa Fe, Zarafshan and Clinton.

In short, Uzbek-American relations are consistently developing, and Uzbekistan is ready to expand and strengthen this interaction not only in bilateral but also in multilateral formats. Just recently, the Consultative Meeting of Heads of State of Central Asia was held in Dushanbe. Today, the leaders of the region are ready to discuss issues of further development of cooperation with the United States for the benefit of strengthening the potential of Central Asia for its prosperity.

Information agency «Dunyo»

Tashkent