The Foreign Minister Bakhtiyor Saidov today addressed the general debate of the 79th session of the UN General Assembly in New York.

"We are witnessing an escalation of conflicts in many parts of the world. We call on everyone to work together more closely globally to address pressing issues such as climate change, poverty, and technological inequality. Commitment to sustainable development goals and an active role in promoting peace and stability in Central Asia will remain our key priorities," the minister noted in his Telegram channel.

In this regard, Uzbekistan proposes to:

• reform the international financial system to empower developing countries;
• ensure safe, accessible digital technologies for all;
• international cooperation to combat climate change, especially in vulnerable regions of Central Asia;
• empower women and youth;
• unite our efforts to combat terrorism and corruption;
• expand transport corridors and economic ties in Central Asia and beyond;
• expand the Educational Center for Afghan Nationals in Termez into a Global Training Center.

Climate Change

Air temperatures in Central Asia are rising faster than the world average. This creates serious risks for food and energy security. The level of water supply per capita in the region has halved over the past few decades.

The Aral Sea disaster continues to have an extremely negative impact on the ecosystems of all states in the region. "We call on the international donor community to expand projects in the Aral Sea region aimed at mitigating the devastating consequences of this disaster," the minister noted.

He recalled that the Aral Sea was the first region in the world to which the UN granted the status of a Zone of Ecological Innovation and Technology. "Our best practices could benefit other countries facing similar problems," he said.

Global Challenges and the UN’s Role

Wars and conflicts, the triple planetary climate crisis, the deterioration of the global economy, the growth of social inequality and the technological gap affect all countries without exception, the head of the Uzbek Foreign Ministry said.

In this context, he called for preserving the enormous potential of multilateral cooperation developed over decades within the UN and other international organizations.

“We are firmly convinced that the United Nations should continue to play a central role in addressing the global challenges of the 21st century,” Bakhtiyor Saidov added.

National policies

The minister emphasized that addressing global problems at the national level is important for maintaining stability and well-being of the population of any country.

“The consistent implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals has been defined by the President of our country as the cornerstone of the state policy of Uzbekistan,” he said.

In recent years, according to him, Uzbekistan has made significant progress in reducing poverty, improving access to education, moving to a “green” economy and promoting gender equality. "Our GDP has more than doubled, and the poverty rate has dropped to 11%," the Foreign Minister said.

Women's Rights

The empowerment of women and girls is a key component of the country's state policy, the Minister noted. According to him, Uzbekistan has made significant progress in ensuring gender equality, entering the top five countries in this indicator.

Regional Cooperation

Central Asia remains the top priority in Uzbekistan's foreign policy, the Minister said. Today, he said, the region is firmly focused on connecting to major world markets and reviving the Great Silk Road.

"Afghanistan is an integral part of Central Asia"

"Unfortunately, the international community has failed to take measures that could reverse the difficult situation in Afghanistan," the Foreign Minister noted. Uzbekistan, according to him, is pursuing a "pragmatic policy" towards its neighbor.

“We will continue to contribute to the economic recovery of Afghanistan and the development of its transport and energy infrastructure,” he said.