Uzbekistan-CIS: an important platform for increasing the effectiveness of multilateral cooperation

President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev will take part in the next meeting of the Council of Heads of State of the CIS and the second summit of the “Central Asia + Russia” format on October 9-10, which will take place in Dushanbe.

Over the past eight years, Uzbekistan has been actively developing multilateral relations with the CIS countries. Further strengthening of these relations is based not only on the territorial proximity and economic ties of the Commonwealth countries, but also on deep historical roots, regional ties, and the common destinies of our peoples over a long historical period.

The exchange of visits at the highest and high levels with the CIS countries has increased. This aspect serves to ensure multilateral dialogue and cooperation, peace and stability in the Commonwealth space.

In order to ensure timely and complete implementation of the signed documents following the participation of President Shavkat Mirziyoyev in meetings of the Council of Heads of State of the Commonwealth in 2017–2024, “Road Maps” were adopted. It should be noted that at previous summits, the head of our state put forward more than 100 initiatives that would contribute to the development of the CIS countries and improve the well-being of their people. In 2020, Uzbekistan presided over the CIS for the first time.

Over the past eight years, Uzbekistan has signed 24 multilateral documents, became participants in 22 decisions of the highest bodies of the CIS, and joined more than 20 industry cooperation bodies.

It is worth noting that our country maintains the positive dynamics of cooperation in all areas within the CIS. In particular, among the main directions for Uzbekistan, multilateral trade and economic cooperation within the framework of the association is of great interest.

According to data, 35.1 percent of our country’s foreign trade turnover falls on the CIS countries. In particular, in 2024, the mutual trade turnover of the republic with the Commonwealth countries amounted to 23.1 billion US dollars. On the territory of Uzbekistan, 5.5 thousand enterprises with the participation of capital from Commonwealth countries successfully operate. In order to stimulate interregional trade in the CIS countries, more than 130 special economic zones are operating, cross-border trade zones are being created.

President Shavkat Mirziyoyev, in his speech at the summit held on October 8, 2024 in Moscow, and at the informal meeting of the heads of state of the CIS, held on December 25 in St. Petersburg, noted: that strengthening joint activities in the economic sphere of cooperation is a priority.

In the trade and economic sphere, an important step was the signing of the Free Trade Agreement, which creates favorable conditions for expanding mutual trade and eliminating existing barriers in trade relations.

Uzbekistan has also established close partnerships with the CIS countries in the joint fight against modern challenges and threats. Within the CIS, the Center for Combating Terrorism was created - a specialized industry body that constantly works to coordinate the interaction of authorized bodies of the member states in the field of countering terrorism and other manifestations of extremism.

In 2024, as part of the implementation of the initiatives of the President of Uzbekistan, an Action Plan was adopted for the development of international transport corridors and optimization of infrastructure passing through the territories of the CIS member states, the Cooperation Program in the field of deradicalization on 2025–2027 and other important documents.

At the initiative of the head of our state, an international conference of analytical centers of the CIS countries on the topic “New Agenda for Long-Term Cooperation” was held in Tashkent, as a result of which important proposals and initiatives were developed.

In addition, in April of this year, a meeting of the CIS Economic Council, the first interregional forum of member states, was held in Tashkent Commonwealth and the first Forum of Innovative Development.

At the meeting of the CIS Economic Council, a wide range of issues of economic cooperation between the member states of this structure were considered. An exchange of views also took place on the issues of financing CIS bodies, statistics, development of small and medium-sized businesses and a number of others.

At the first interregional CIS forum, a number of measures were proposed to stimulate trade relations in the Commonwealth countries, taking into account global processes in world trade, including full use of the potential of the Free Trade Agreement within the CIS, the elimination of existing barriers to the movement of goods and services, digitalization of trade procedures and cargo transportation, active involvement of regional cooperation projects.

According to the business program of the forum, negotiations and meetings were organized in B2B format. As a result of the forum, more than 10 documents were signed on the establishment of friendly relations, the establishment of trade, economic, scientific, technical, cultural and humanitarian cooperation, as well as important documents on the further deepening and expansion of interaction between the regions of the Commonwealth countries.

Participants of the first Forum of Innovative Development considered current issues in the development of modern technologies and discussed the possibilities of the Interstate Program of Innovative Cooperation of the CIS Member States for the promotion and commercialization of promising innovative projects.

In addition, on August 7-8 of this year, the International Forum on the development of artificial intelligence technologies in the CIS countries was held in Samarkand. During the two-day forum, five sessions were held, during which agreements were reached on current issues and new trends in the field of artificial intelligence, business meetings were held, experiences and innovative solutions were exchanged, and joint projects were implemented. This international forum served as an important platform for deepening cooperation between the CIS countries, harmonizing common policies and standards, jointly developing innovative solutions, and identifying new scientific and technical prospects.

It is no secret that the formation of a full-fledged free trade zone and strengthening transport connectivity in the CIS space is important. Uzbekistan pays special attention to the development of this area both in multilateral and bilateral formats with the member states of this structure.

An important and valuable resource is that the countries and peoples of the CIS are connected by a common cultural and historical heritage and numerous humanitarian ties. These factors remain strong and reliable pillars of the Commonwealth today. Cultural ties are developing rapidly. Within the framework of this structure, festivals, concerts, various fairs, sports and other events are regularly held.

The next meeting in the “Central Asia + Russia” dialogue format will also be held in Dushanbe. The agenda of the meeting will focus on such current issues as international and regional problems, security, mutual support within international organizations, joint initiatives in the field of cultural and humanitarian cooperation and others.

President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev took part in the first “Central Asia + Russia” summit, held in the capital of Kazakhstan, Astana on October 14, 2022. At the summit, an exchange of views took place on issues of cooperation in the “Central Asia + Russia” format, as well as on current issues of regional and international significance.

At the first meeting in this format, the head of our state put forward initiatives aimed at strengthening regional partnership in trade, economic, transport and communication, energy, cultural and humanitarian spheres, as well as in the field of environmental protection at a higher level.

In a word, Uzbekistan’s participation in the CIS and its relations with the member states of this structure have broad prospects. Such interaction rightfully serves as an example of good neighborliness, friendship and mutual assistance. All this allows us to look optimistically into the future of Uzbekistan’s relations with the CIS countries. It is safe to say that the upcoming summits in Dushanbe and their results will serve to further increase the effectiveness of multilateral cooperation in the Commonwealth for the benefit of our countries and peoples.

IA Dunyo