The President of Uzbekistan calls for solidarity, open dialogue, and close cooperation among nations of the world

On September 23, the general political debates of the 80th anniversary session of the UN General Assembly began at the United Nations Headquarters in New York, where the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan, Shavkat Mirziyoyev, delivered an address.

On the first day of the debates, chaired by the President of the session, Annalena Baerbock, participants included UN Secretary-General António Guterres and leaders of member states – President of the United States Donald Trump, President of the Federative Republic of Brazil Luiz Inácio da Silva, President of the Republic of Türkiye Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, President of the Republic of South Africa Cyril Ramaphosa, President of the Republic of Korea Lee Jae Myung, President of France Emmanuel Macron, as well as heads of other states.

At the beginning of his speech, the President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev sincerely congratulated the participants on the milestone 80th session of the UN General Assembly. He emphasized that the current meeting is taking place against the backdrop of a rapidly changing and complex global environment, which requires a new outlook and approaches to the work and future of the Organization.

“Today, we are witnessing the weakening role of international institutions, the growth of contradictions, conflicts, and wars in the world, as well as a sharp increase in technological and social inequality, and the aggravation of economic and humanitarian crises. All this is shaping a completely new and troubling geopolitical reality”, stated the President of Uzbekistan.

The Leader of Uzbekistan highly commended the efforts of UN Secretary-General António Guterres to preserve the UN as the leading platform for achieving compromise solutions to complex and pressing global issues. He expressed support for the UN80 initiatives and reaffirmed Uzbekistan’s strong commitment to the Pact for the Future.

The President of Uzbekistan also called for the transformation and expansion of the UN Security Council to ensure a more effective response to contemporary challenges and threats, thereby safeguarding the interests of developing nations.

The Head of State elaborated on the irreversible reforms in Uzbekistan, which are being carried out in complete alignment with the Sustainable Development Goals. As emphasized, the country is consistently pursuing a policy of building a democratic, legal, social, and secular state – the New Uzbekistan.

“Our main goal is to fundamentally transform the lives of every family, every citizen living in the country, ensuring human interests, dignity, and well-being”, the President stated.

It was noted that in recent years, Uzbekistan has reduced the poverty rate from 35 percent to 6.6 percent. This has been achieved primarily through reforms in education and science, the creation of innovative industries and technological enterprises, the development of green energy, and the modernization of transport infrastructure, as well as comprehensive support for small businesses, resulting in the creation of millions of jobs.

Preschool education coverage in the country has increased from 27% to 78%, while higher education enrollment has risen from 9% to 42%. Enhancing the status and prestige of the teaching and mentoring profession remains a top priority.

To establish a unified international platform for the exchange of knowledge and best practices among educators, it was proposed to hold a World Summit on Professional Education in Uzbekistan.

Speaking about the creation of an advanced healthcare system, the Head of State also announced that, at the initiative of Uzbekistan, a high-level event dedicated to combating childhood cancer and other severe diseases will be held at the UN Headquarters.

Touching upon gender policy, the President stated that the role of women in the public, political, and business life of the country will continue to expand.

In this context, he called for the regular convening of the Asian Women’s Forum across the entire region, turning it into a permanent platform.

Emphasizing Uzbekistan’s firm commitment to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals, the President noted that by 2030, the country aims to join the ranks of ‘upper-middle-income’ nations.

Special attention was given to Uzbekistan’s foreign policy priorities. The Head of State stated: “Eight years ago, from this very rostrum, we declared our firm determination to transform Central Asia into a space of peace, good-neighborliness, and partnership. Today, with deep satisfaction, it can be said that we have achieved this strategic goal. The era of closed borders, unresolved disputes, and conflicts has become a thing of the past”.

It was noted that in recent years, the volume of mutual trade, investment, and transport flows in the region has increased fivefold. Joint investment funds, cross-border trade zones, and industrial cooperation projects are being established, while major infrastructure projects are underway.

An effective mechanism for deepening regional integration has become the Consultative Meetings of the Heads of State of Central Asia.

“I can confidently say that today marks the beginning of the formation of a New Central Asia. Thanks to its cohesion, stability, and growing regional identity, it is taking an increasingly solid place in the system of international relations as an independent actor”, the President stated.

The Head of State proposed, in cooperation with UN structures, the implementation of several new projects and programs in the region. In particular, to hold under the auspices of ECOSOC and UNCTAD an international forum dedicated to the development of the economies of Central Asian states, to establish together with UNIDO a regional hub for green technologies in industry, and to adopt programs for the rational use of water resources, the creation of a green space, and the promotion of demographic sustainability.

Additionally, an initiative has been proposed to adopt a UN General Assembly resolution in support of the efforts of Central Asian countries to deepen regional partnership and economic integration.

In the context of global and regional security issues, the President of Uzbekistan addressed the situation in Afghanistan. To support the Afghan people’s aspiration for a peaceful and tranquil life, he called for the consolidation of international efforts, particularly emphasizing the importance of preventing the country’s isolation.

It was noted that Uzbekistan plans to implement major economic and infrastructure projects there.

The Leader of Uzbekistan proposed the adoption of a separate UN resolution on the development of international transport and energy corridors passing through Afghanistan’s territory.

Speaking about the worsening humanitarian crisis in the Gaza Strip, the President called for an end to hostilities and the continuation of political negotiations.

“We firmly advocate the implementation of the principle of “two-state solution” in accordance with UN resolutions”, he stated from the high rostrum of the Organization.

Expressing serious concern over the situation around Ukraine, he welcomed the launch of a high-level dialogue aimed at resolving it through diplomatic means.

Continuing on the theme of security, the Head of State pointed to the effective implementation of the Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy in Central Asia. It was proposed to transform the Regional Expert Council on Rehabilitation and Reintegration, established in cooperation with the UN Counter-Terrorism Office, into an International Competence Center. The Center would serve as an essential platform for sharing experiences in adapting to peaceful life for individuals returned from conflict zones.

The President also announced readiness to create the necessary conditions for opening a regional office of the UN Counter-Terrorism Office in Uzbekistan.

The Leader of Uzbekistan emphasized that the vulnerability of the global transport system in today’s turbulent world has a highly negative impact on the stability of developing landlocked states.

To ensure the security of international transit corridors and create efficient logistics supply chains, he called for the introduction of a Global Mechanism for Strengthening Mutual Transport Connectivity to Achieve the Sustainable Development Goals.

The President of Uzbekistan also addressed the problem of climate change, which is becoming increasingly acute. As he noted, the negative consequences of the Aral Sea’s desiccation must remain constantly at the center of the world community’s attention.

“We are carrying out active work to restore the ecosystem of the Aral Sea region. In recent years, salt-tolerant desert plants have been planted on a total area of 2 million hectares of the dried seabed of the Aral Sea. By 2030, up to 80 percent of the entire territory will be covered with green plantations”, the Head of State emphasized.

Touching upon the issue of water scarcity, the President announced plans to hold a World Water Conservation Forum in Uzbekistan. The event is expected to identify the water crisis as a serious threat to sustainable development and to adopt a roadmap for introducing innovative technologies at the global level.

Another negative manifestation of environmental change, the President noted, is the intensification of climate migration, stressing the absence of concrete international mechanisms and a legal framework to address this problem.

In this regard, he called for the adoption of a Global Pact on a broad international partnership and the implementation of a coordinated policy on this pressing issue.

In the context of ensuring sustainable development for all countries, the President of Uzbekistan drew attention to the critical importance of eliminating the gap between states in digital development and the use of artificial intelligence. In this regard, he proposed the creation of an International Cooperation Mechanism for the free exchange of practical solutions and AI models in the fields of healthcare, education, and culture.

“I would like to highlight another priority issue. The future, the destiny, and the well-being of the world are in the hands of the younger generation. Our urgent task is to instill in the consciousness of youth the noble ideas of peace, humanism, and friendship, mutual trust, and respect”, the Leader of Uzbekistan stated.

In this regard, a proposal was put forward to establish a World Youth Movement for Peace, with its headquarters to be located in Uzbekistan.

As the President noted, by consistently pursuing a policy of tolerance in society, Uzbekistan will continue to study actively and widely promote throughout the world the ideas of enlightened Islam. In the coming months, a unique Center for Islamic Civilization, the first of its kind in the region, will open in Tashkent. It is planned to hold a special presentation at the UN on the rich spiritual and scientific heritage of our great ancestors, thinkers, and scholars, including Imam Bukhari, Imam Termizi, and Imam Maturidi.

Following his speech, Shavkat Mirziyoyev stated that New Uzbekistan stands for solidarity, open dialogue, and close cooperation with all states of the world, and is ready to contribute to strengthening dialogue among peoples, cultures, and civilizations, as well as to achieving humanity’s common goals.

UzA