On July 4, the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan took part in the 17th summit of the Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO), which was held in Khankendi under the chairmanship of the President of Azerbaijan.
The summit was attended by heads of state and government of SCO member states, including Iran, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkey, Pakistan, Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan, as well as representatives of Afghanistan, international organizations, and business circles of the region.
The participants discussed prospects for deepening multilateral cooperation and exchanged views on key issues on the international and regional agenda.
At the beginning of his speech, President Shavkat Mirziyoyev outlined the current challenges to security and sustainable development, reaffirmed his commitment to the peaceful settlement of conflicts, and stressed the importance of a just settlement of the Palestinian-Israeli issue. Among the new initiatives put forward are:
• Adoption of the concept of “Strategic Goals of Economic Partnership – 2035,” which focuses on digitalization, innovation, and artificial intelligence.
• Holding a meeting of trade ministers on ECO issues in Tashkent to discuss strategic issues and prepare an agreement on trade facilitation.
• Creation of a system of “green corridors” for the rapid exchange of information and unhindered trade in agricultural products.
• Development of a long-term Ecoinvest program to stimulate private and international investment in sustainable projects in the region.
• Forming alternative transport corridors, in particular, developing the China-Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan railway with further connection to the Trans-Afghan Corridor.
• Accelerating the creation of a Digital Transport and Customs Office to coordinate the digitalization of logistics.
• Holding an ECO national airline forum in Samarkand to stimulate air transport, tourism, and marketing cooperation in the aviation sector.
• Developing a roadmap for expanding tourism services aimed at doubling tourist flows within the ECO.
• Creation of a cross-border “green program” for the restoration of ecosystems in desert areas with an emphasis on afforestation and the development of recreation.
• Preparation of proposals for reforming the EAEU to enhance its effectiveness and authority in the international arena.
In conclusion, the President of Uzbekistan expressed his confidence that the summit would give new impetus to economic cooperation and open a stage of meaningful transformation of regional partnership.
Full text of the speech by the President of Uzbekistan
