According to the Uzbek president’s press service, Shavkat Mirziyoyev in his remarks at the Central Asia-Gulf Cooperation Summit underscored the deep historical interconnectivity of the peoples of Central Asia and the Gulf region, which is based on close trade relations, shared values and traditions, as well as religion.
Describing the current situation in the world, Shavkat Mirziyoyev noted that "despite the current risks and challenges, both regions continue to be a space of peace, stability and progress."
Highlighting that in recent years relations between Uzbekistan and the Gulf countries have risen to a new level, Shavkat Mirziyoyev proposed to expand cooperation between the two regions in a number of priority areas.
In the political area, the President of Uzbekistan pointed to the importance of developing large-scale cooperation in various formats and proposed to explore the ways to draft a multilateral agreement on friendship, regional interconnectivity and cooperation.
In the field of high technologies and investments, Shavkat Mirziyoyev advocated the creation of platforms and mechanisms for cooperation in the field of innovation, artificial intelligence, green economy, digitalization, smart agriculture, nano- and biotechnologies. He put forward an initiative to create a Joint Council of Investors with the participation of business leaders and to hold its first meeting in Samarkand. The President also proposed to adopt a separate road map for joint implementation of green projects.
In terms of trade and transport interconnectivity, Shavkat Mirziyoyev emphasized the relevance of setting up of a free trade zone with the Gulf countries, harmonizing technical regulations and developing e-commerce. In this regard, he proposed to work out the issue of signing a multilateral trade agreement.
Shavkat Mirziyoyev called for the use of favorable tariffs when using the Middle Transport Corridor, the use of existing multimodal routes, and to increase frequency of direct flights using subsidy measures. He also called on the partners to take an active part in the Trans-Afghan railway project, which will connect the Gulf states with Central Asia along the shortest route.
In the field of green economy and climate change, Shavkat Mirziyoyev noted the importance of developing an international Joint Research Program at the University for the Study of Environment and Climate Change of Central Asia, which is opening in Uzbekistan.
In the field of tourism, the President proposed to create a single visa-free tourism space "Gulf - Central Asia", modern clusters and joint tourism products, as well as holding a forum of leading tour operators of the two regions in the city of Khiva, which was declared the Tourism Capital of the Islamic World in 2024.
Separately, Shavkat Mirziyoyev raised the issue of joint struggle within the framework of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation against Islamophobia in the world.
He also pointed to the need to strengthen cooperation in the fight against terrorism, extremism, radicalism and drug trafficking, as well as to protect young people from the spread of these threats through the Internet and other channels.
The President Mirziyoyev touched upon the issues of peace in Afghanistan: "Our regions should be active and draw the attention of the entire world community to the problems of Afghanistan from high tribunes in order to make life easier for the Afghan people."
