Speech by the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev at the 80th session of the United Nations General Assembly

Dear Madam President!

Dear Mr. Secretary General!

Heads of delegations!

Ladies and gentlemen!

I am sincerely pleased to congratulate you on the anniversary, eightieth session of the UN General Assembly.

The current meeting is taking place in a rapidly changing, complex global situation, and this requires a new look and approach to the activities and future of our Organization.

Today we are witnessing a weakening role of international institutions, an increase in contradictions, conflicts and wars in the world, as well as a sharp increase in technological and social inequality, an aggravation of economic and humanitarian crises. All this is forming a completely new, alarming geopolitical reality.

We highly appreciate the efforts of Secretary-General António Guterres to preserve in these conditions the UN as the main platform for achieving compromise solutions to complex and pressing global issues.

In this regard, we fully support the initiatives of UN-80 and reaffirm our strong commitment to the Pact for the Future.

At the same time, we advocate for the transformation and expansion of the composition of the UN Security Council in order to more effectively combat modern challenges and threats, and protect the interests of developing states.

Dear participants of the meeting!

We consistently continue to implement our policy of building a democratic, legal, social and secular state - the New Uzbekistan, implementing irreversible reforms in full compliance with the Sustainable Development Goals.

Our main goal is to radically change the life of every family, every citizen living in our country, ensuring the interests of a person, his dignity and well-being.

In recent years, we have managed to reduce the poverty level in Uzbekistan from 35 percent to 6.6 percent. We achieve such results primarily through reforming the sphere of education and science, creating innovative industries and technological industrial enterprises, developing green energy and modernizing transport infrastructure, comprehensive support for small businesses and, as a result, creating millions of jobs.

In our country, enrollment in preschool education increased from 27 to 78 percent, and in higher education - from 9 to 42 percent.

Most importantly, increasing the prestige of the profession of a teacher and mentor remains the most important issue for us.

In order to create a unified international platform for the exchange of experience and knowledge of teachers, we propose to hold the World Vocational Education Summit in Uzbekistan.

Along with this, we are creating an advanced healthcare system in the country.

Tomorrow here, At the headquarters of the United Nations, on our initiative, a high-level event will be held dedicated to the fight against childhood cancer and other serious diseases, and we invite all our foreign partners to take part in it.

Another important area is gender policy. We intend to further enhance the role of women in the social, political and business life of the country. We advocate for the regular holding of the Asian Women's Forum throughout our vast region, turning it into a permanent platform.

I would like to emphasize once again: our commitment to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals remains unwavering.

By 2030, we intend to become an “upper middle income” country. We will consistently continue our open and pragmatic policy to achieve this goal.

Dear ladies and gentlemen!

Eight years ago, from this high rostrum, we declared our firm determination to transform Central Asia into a space of peace, good neighborliness and partnership.

And Today we can state with deep satisfaction that we have achieved this strategic goal. The era of closed borders, unresolved disputes and conflicts is a thing of the past.

In recent years, the volume of mutual trade, investment and transport in our region has increased fivefold. We are creating joint investment funds, zones of cross-border trade and industrial cooperation, and implementing large infrastructure projects.

We also consider it our common achievement that the Consultative Meetings of the Heads of State of Central Asia have become an effective mechanism for deepening regional integration.

I can confidently say that today the process of forming a New Central Asia has begun. Thanks to its cohesion, stability and growing regional identity, it occupies an increasingly strong place in the system of international relations as an independent entity.

To achieve these goals, we intend to give priority to expanding mutually beneficial ties with all our foreign partners.

In this direction, we propose to implement, together with United Nations structures, a number of new projects and programs in our region. In particular: to hold, under the auspices of ECOSOC and UNCTAD, an international forum dedicated to the development of the economies of the Central Asian states; create, together with UNIDO, a regional hub on “green” technologies in industry; adopt programs for the rational use of water resources in our region, the formation of “green” space and ensuring demographic sustainability.

In addition, we propose to adopt a resolution of the UN General Assembly in support of the efforts of the Central Asian countries aimed at deepening regional partnership and economic integration.

Dear heads of delegations!

When talking about global and regional security and sustainable development, it is impossible not to touch upon the issue of Afghanistan.

To support the aspirations of the Afghan people for a peaceful and tranquil life, it is necessary to unite the efforts of the international community. I would especially like to emphasize that it is extremely important to prevent the isolation of this country.

We plan to implement large economic and infrastructure projects in this country. We propose to adopt a separate UN resolution on the development of international transport and energy corridors through the territory of this country.

The sharply worsening humanitarian crisis in the Gaza Strip cannot be ignored. We call for a cessation of hostilities and the continuation of political negotiations. We strongly support the implementation of the principle of “two states for two peoples” in accordance with UN resolutions.

The situation around Ukraine also causes serious concern for all of us. We welcome the start of a high-level dialogue to resolve it through diplomatic means.

Dear session participants!

Effective work is underway in Central Asia to implement the Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy.

In cooperation with the UN Office of Counter-Terrorism, a Regional Expert Council on Rehabilitation and reintegration. We propose to transform this Council into an International Competence Center. It will serve as an important platform for the exchange of experience on adaptation to peaceful life of persons returned from problem areas.

We are also ready to create all the conditions for the opening of a regional office of the UN Counter-Terrorism Office in Uzbekistan.

Dear ladies and gentlemen!

We are becoming more and more We are convinced how vulnerable the global transport system is in the current unstable and threat-filled world.

These problems have an extremely negative impact on the stability of primarily landlocked developing countries. It is very important to ensure the safety of international transit corridors and create efficient logistics supplies.

We believe that the time has come to introduce a global mechanism “Strengthening mutual transport connectivity in order to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals.”

I would also like to dwell specifically on the problem of climate change, which is becoming increasingly acute. In particular, the negative consequences of the drying up of the Aral Sea should be constantly in the spotlight of the world community.

We are actively working to restore the Aral Sea ecosystem. In recent years, salt-tolerant desert plants have been planted on the dry bottom of the Aral Sea with a total area of ​​2 million hectares. By 2030, up to 80 percent of the entire territory will be covered with green spaces.

Another important problem is the shortage of water resources. Currently, more than two billion people in the world do not have access to clean drinking water.

We are planning to hold a World Forum on Water Conservation in our country. Based on its results, it is planned to identify the water crisis as a serious threat to sustainable development. We intend to adopt a “road map” for the introduction of innovative technologies at the global level.

Another negative manifestation of environmental changes is increased climate migration. Unfortunately, there are still no specific international mechanisms and legal framework in this direction.

We stand for the adoption of a Global Pact for broad international partnership and coordinated policies on this serious issue.

Dear meeting participants!

Closing the digital divide between countries is extremely important development and use of artificial intelligence. We propose to create an International Cooperation Mechanism for the free exchange of practical solutions and artificial intelligence models in the fields of healthcare, education and culture.

I would like to dwell on another priority issue.

Tomorrow, the fate and well-being of the world are in the hands of the younger generation. Our urgent task is to instill in the consciousness of young people the noble ideas of peace, humanism and friendship, mutual trust and respect.

In this regard, we put forward a proposal to establish a World Youth Movement for Peace and locate its headquarters in Uzbekistan.

We are consistently implementing a policy of tolerance in our society. At the same time, we will actively continue the in-depth study and wide popularization of the ideas of enlightened Islam throughout the world.

In the coming months we will open a unique Center for Islamic Civilization for our vast region.

We intend to hold a special presentation at the United Nations of the rich spiritual and scientific heritage of our great ancestors - thinkers and scientists Imam Bukhari, Imam Termezi and Imam Maturidi.

Dear ladies and gentlemen!

The new Uzbekistan stands for solidarity, open dialogue and close cooperation with all states of the world.

We are ready to contribute to strengthening the dialogue between peoples, cultures and civilizations, achieving the goals of humanity.

Thank you for your attention.

Official website of the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan