IICA staff completes an internship at the SCO Secretariat

At the end of last year, a delegation from the International Institute for Central Asia, consisting of leading researchers, visited Beijing to establish and enhance cooperation with leading Chinese analytical centers and research institutes.

During the stay, IICA representatives completed an internship at the SCO Secretariat, which became the first unique experience for both Uzbekistan’s analytical institution and the Organization itself.

With the assistance of the Embassy of Uzbekistan in China, several meetings have also been organized with experts from China’s leading think tanks specializing in Central Asian studies. Special attention was paid to developing cooperation within the framework of the Central Asia – China format and establishing and expanding partnerships between Chinese analytical institutions and IICA.

During the negotiations with the leadership of the Institute for the Social Development of Europe and Asia, the parties exchanged views on the further development of the “Central Asia – China” format in such priority areas as the digital economy, green energy, smart agriculture, and transport logistics infrastructure.

Discussions continued at the Institute of Russian, Eastern European and Central Asian Studies. The parties considered issues of launching a Dialogue on linking development strategies within the framework of initiatives put forward by the two countries’ leaders at the Central Asia – China Summit in Xi’an in May 2023.

At the meeting with experts from the International Department of the Central Committee of the Chinese Communist Party, attention was focused on the practical implementation of the roadmaps adopted following the state visit of President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev to China on January 24-25, 2024, as well as the Central Asia – China Summit.

The sides exchanged views on the main priorities of cooperation in both bilateral and regional formats, including strengthening cooperation between analytical centers.

Negotiations were also held with experts from the Institute of Eurasian Studies of the China Institutes of Contemporary International Relations, during which issues of implementing joint research projects in education and improving the quality of human capital were discussed. An agreement was also reached to hold online consultations on the eve of the summits of the heads of state of the “Central Asia – China” format.

In general, as part of the IICA staff’s research trip to Beijing, agreements were reached to strengthen cooperation with several leading Chinese institutions, including through the signing of cooperation agreements and the adoption of a Joint Action Plan. This, in turn, will contribute to further developing an expert dialogue to facilitate the practical implementation of agreements reached during meetings and negotiations at the highest levels.