The President of Uzbekistan Outlined Priority Areas for Cooperation within the Commonwealth of Independent States
World
On October 9, the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan, Shavkat Mirziyoyev, participated in the regular meeting of the Council of Heads of State of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS), held in the "Avaza" National Tourist Zone in Turkmenistan.
The summit, chaired by the President of Turkmenistan, Serdar Berdimuhamedov, was attended by the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev, the President of the Republic of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko, the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, the President of the Kyrgyz Republic Sadyr Japarov, the President of the Russian Federation Vladimir Putin, the President of the Republic of Tajikistan Emomali Rahmon, the Prime Minister of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan, and CIS Secretary General Sergey Lebedev.
In accordance with the agenda, an exchange of views took place regarding pressing issues concerning the further expansion of multilateral cooperation.
In his address, the Head of State congratulated everyone on a significant milestone—the 35th anniversary of the Commonwealth—and noted that despite ongoing changes, close human ties, a shared history, and the immense potential for cooperation between our countries and peoples remain constant.
"Today, the world is undergoing radical change. Tensions are rising, and established economic ties are being restructured. In such a situation, it is particularly important to strengthen trust, align positions more frequently, and ensure that our agreements yield tangible results," the President of Uzbekistan noted.
It was emphasized that economic integration and industrial cooperation remain key pillars of stability and development. To elevate the trade and investment partnership to a new level, the need to leverage collective potential and transition gradually from simple goods exchange to the joint creation of full-fledged value chains was highlighted.
The country's leader then outlined several priority areas for joint efforts.
First and foremost is ensuring the full functioning of the Free Trade Zone by eliminating technical barriers, mutually recognizing certificates of conformity, and expanding access to public procurement.
Ensuring food security was identified as crucial for maintaining economic resilience and public well-being.
In this regard, the importance of promptly finalizing and approving an agreement on expanding mutual access to public procurement for agricultural products, as well as a cooperation program on food security, was noted. To enhance market predictability, a proposal was made to implement a mechanism for advance notification and consultation prior to the imposition of restrictions on food and fertilizer exports.
Particular emphasis was placed on pooling industrial capabilities and expanding mutual investments. To sustain strong business interest in collaboration, the need to quickly finalize a roadmap for supporting the operations of special economic zones was highlighted.
Addressing the issue of transport connectivity, President Shavkat Mirziyoyev advocated for the creation of integrated logistics centers, a significant reduction in transit costs, the harmonization of freight transport regulations, and the establishment of a unified transport information system within the CIS. He also supported the Turkmen initiative to designate 2029 as the "Year of Transport Connectivity" for the Commonwealth.
Regarding energy security, the need for a long-term forecast covering the coming decades was noted. "It must provide a clear understanding of where and when seasonal energy surpluses and deficits arise, which grids need to be developed, and how best to combine hydropower, thermal generation, and renewable sources," the head of state emphasized.
Challenges associated with climate change were also addressed in this context.
"Coordinated and practical solutions are needed here. We advocate for the accelerated adoption of low-carbon technologies and the development of closed-loop production systems," the President continued.
To join forces, it was proposed to develop a CIS cooperation concept for a resource-efficient and circular economy.
Cultural and humanitarian ties were identified as a solid foundation for mutual understanding and the strengthening of trust among the peoples and countries of the Commonwealth.
Regarding the further development of this area, the significant potential for expanding the format of the Interstate Fund for Humanitarian Cooperation was highlighted.
It was also proposed to focus particular attention on the creative industries, which are rapidly evolving under the influence of new technologies and becoming a distinct, prominent sector of the modern economy.
In this context, an initiative was put forward to organize a forum titled "Cultural Policy and Creative Industries."
Among contemporary challenges, the rapidly growing global issue of cybercrime was singled out.
"Fraud involving information technology is already causing serious harm to citizens and businesses, and poses risks to the stability of our countries' financial systems," the leader of Uzbekistan emphasized.
Accordingly, it was proposed to task the Council of Ministers of Internal Affairs with promptly developing a set of measures to establish a Joint CIS Contact Center for the rapid response to cross-border cybercrimes and fraudulent schemes.
Concluding his address, President Shavkat Mirziyoyev expressed Uzbekistan's readiness to assume the CIS chairmanship next year and its commitment to close cooperation; he also thanked the President of Turkmenistan, Serdar Berdimuhamedov, for the hospitality and the excellent organization of the summit.
Heads of delegations from other Commonwealth countries also spoke during the meeting.
In accordance with the agenda, an exchange of views took place regarding pressing issues concerning the further expansion of multilateral cooperation.
In his address, the Head of State congratulated everyone on a significant milestone—the 35th anniversary of the Commonwealth—and noted that despite ongoing changes, close human ties, a shared history, and the immense potential for cooperation between our countries and peoples remain constant.
"Today, the world is undergoing radical change. Tensions are rising, and established economic ties are being restructured. In such a situation, it is particularly important to strengthen trust, align positions more frequently, and ensure that our agreements yield tangible results," the President of Uzbekistan noted.
It was emphasized that economic integration and industrial cooperation remain key pillars of stability and development. To elevate the trade and investment partnership to a new level, the need to leverage collective potential and transition gradually from simple goods exchange to the joint creation of full-fledged value chains was highlighted.
The country's leader then outlined several priority areas for joint efforts.
First and foremost is ensuring the full functioning of the Free Trade Zone by eliminating technical barriers, mutually recognizing certificates of conformity, and expanding access to public procurement.
Ensuring food security was identified as crucial for maintaining economic resilience and public well-being.
In this regard, the importance of promptly finalizing and approving an agreement on expanding mutual access to public procurement for agricultural products, as well as a cooperation program on food security, was noted. To enhance market predictability, a proposal was made to implement a mechanism for advance notification and consultation prior to the imposition of restrictions on food and fertilizer exports.
Particular emphasis was placed on pooling industrial capabilities and expanding mutual investments. To sustain strong business interest in collaboration, the need to quickly finalize a roadmap for supporting the operations of special economic zones was highlighted.
Addressing the issue of transport connectivity, President Shavkat Mirziyoyev advocated for the creation of integrated logistics centers, a significant reduction in transit costs, the harmonization of freight transport regulations, and the establishment of a unified transport information system within the CIS. He also supported the Turkmen initiative to designate 2029 as the "Year of Transport Connectivity" for the Commonwealth.
Regarding energy security, the need for a long-term forecast covering the coming decades was noted. "It must provide a clear understanding of where and when seasonal energy surpluses and deficits arise, which grids need to be developed, and how best to combine hydropower, thermal generation, and renewable sources," the head of state emphasized.
Challenges associated with climate change were also addressed in this context.
"Coordinated and practical solutions are needed here. We advocate for the accelerated adoption of low-carbon technologies and the development of closed-loop production systems," the President continued.
To join forces, it was proposed to develop a CIS cooperation concept for a resource-efficient and circular economy.
Cultural and humanitarian ties were identified as a solid foundation for mutual understanding and the strengthening of trust among the peoples and countries of the Commonwealth.
Regarding the further development of this area, the significant potential for expanding the format of the Interstate Fund for Humanitarian Cooperation was highlighted.
It was also proposed to focus particular attention on the creative industries, which are rapidly evolving under the influence of new technologies and becoming a distinct, prominent sector of the modern economy.
In this context, an initiative was put forward to organize a forum titled "Cultural Policy and Creative Industries."
Among contemporary challenges, the rapidly growing global issue of cybercrime was singled out.
"Fraud involving information technology is already causing serious harm to citizens and businesses, and poses risks to the stability of our countries' financial systems," the leader of Uzbekistan emphasized.
Accordingly, it was proposed to task the Council of Ministers of Internal Affairs with promptly developing a set of measures to establish a Joint CIS Contact Center for the rapid response to cross-border cybercrimes and fraudulent schemes.
Concluding his address, President Shavkat Mirziyoyev expressed Uzbekistan's readiness to assume the CIS chairmanship next year and its commitment to close cooperation; he also thanked the President of Turkmenistan, Serdar Berdimuhamedov, for the hospitality and the excellent organization of the summit.
Heads of delegations from other Commonwealth countries also spoke during the meeting.
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