The President of the Republic of Uzbekistan, Shavkat Mirziyoyev, participated in the 17th summit of the Economic Cooperation Organization in the city of Khonkend on July 4th. The President's press service reported this.
Under the chairmanship of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Ilham Aliyev, the event was attended by the President of the Islamic Republic of Iran, Masoud Pezeshkian, the President of the Kyrgyz Republic, Sadyr Japarov, the President of the Republic of Tajikistan, Emomali Rahmon, the President of the Republic of Turkey, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, the Prime Minister of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, Shahbaz Sharif, the Prime Minister of the Republic of Kazakhstan, Olzhas Bekturov, the Deputy Chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers - Minister of Foreign Affairs of Turkmenistan, Rashid Meredov, the Acting Deputy Prime Minister of Afghanistan, Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar, the Secretary-General of the ECO, Asad Majid Khan, and leaders of delegations from various countries and regional organizations.
The prospects for further development of multifaceted cooperation within the framework of the ECO were considered, and views on pressing international and regional issues were exchanged.
At the beginning of his speech, the head of our state highlighted the threats to security and stable development.
The leader of Uzbekistan once again emphasized the importance of resolving conflicts and disputes through diplomacy and constructive negotiations.
It was also stressed that peace and stability in the Middle East cannot be achieved without resolving the Palestinian-Israeli conflict fairly.
As the meeting's agenda moved forward, the President of Uzbekistan focused on various pressing issues.
First and foremost, the importance of adopting the "Strategic Goals of Economic Cooperation - 2035" concept aimed at advancing the organization's medium and long-term development priorities was noted. The document emphasizes the need to concentrate on collaboration in the fields of innovation, artificial intelligence, and digital technologies, along with traditional directions.
In particular, issues related to simplifying the trade of goods and services, gradually eliminating technical and non-tariff barriers, and developing e-commerce remain critical.
A proposal was made to hold a meeting of trade ministers in Tashkent this year to discuss strategic issues and adopt the Trade Facilitation Agreement.
Our state leader proposed the initiative of creating "green corridors" for the rapid exchange of information on agricultural product trade and their barrier-free delivery.
Emphasizing the importance of adopting the long-term "EcoInvest" program to elevate investment collaboration to a new level, aiming to create a more transparent and attractive investment environment.
- We believe the main goal of this program is to extensively attract private investors, banks, and international financial institutions to promising projects in our region, - said the leader of Uzbekistan.
Shaping alternative transport routes is a strategic priority in the current geopolitical situation. The potential connection of the China - Kyrgyzstan - Uzbekistan railway project to the prospective Trans-Afghan corridor, which would efficiently link regional transit networks, was noted.
Our state leader also proposed accelerating the establishment of the Digital Transport and Customs Agency with the aim of systematic efforts to digitize the transport and logistics sector.
- Opening new flight routes in the region, establishing innovative collaborations between airlines, and developing integrated marketing strategies between the tourism and aviation sectors is one of the pressing tasks, - said the leader of Uzbekistan.
A proposal was made to hold a National Airlines Forum in Samarkand this year to discuss these issues.
The potential for doubling the flow of tourists was highlighted, and adopting a "roadmap" for expanding tourism services within the organization will serve this purpose.
The importance of uniting efforts on the global climate agenda and the president proposed developing a Transboundary “Green Program” for creating forests and recreational zones in desert areas.
The leader of Uzbekistan positively evaluated the work of the High-Level Committee and tasked it with preparing specific recommendations to improve the ECO's operations by the next summit.
- Reforms will elevate our cooperation to a new level and enhance the organization's reputation and influence on the international arena, - said the President.
In conclusion, the head of our state expressed confidence that this summit would give a strong impetus to multifaceted practical cooperation within the framework of the Economic Cooperation Organization and mark the beginning of a new stage.
