The pundits say that 2017-2018 will
remain in history as the years of the beginning
of a new era in the interstate relations of the
Central Asian countries. Thanks to the political
will and active strategic actions taken by the
leaders of these neighboring states, the region
has begun to show new signs of political life,
and the level of political trust among the
countries of Central Asia has increased
significantly. Moreover, in a very short period of
time, a completely "new political atmosphere"
has been created in the region, which
contributes to strengthening contacts in all
areas and reducing conflict potential in the region.
On this occasion, the Vice-President of the American Foreign Policy Council I. Berman notes
that the main driving forces of the current changes taking place in the region are "the peaceful
transition of power in Uzbekistan in 2016 and the new large-scale economic reforms initiated in the
country by the President Sh. Mirziyoyev." Uzbekistan's open, friendly and pragmatic regional policy
has contributed to the creation of a fundamentally new situation in Central Asia. The countries of the
region have begun to talk less about differences, increasingly focusing on the need to find sound
compromises on critical regional issues.
Having a common border with all Central Asian States, including Afghanistan, Uzbekistan is
objectively interested in turning the region into a zone of stability, sustainable development and
good-neighborliness. Economically prosperous and safe Central Asia is an absolute imperative for
Tashkent. However, as repeatedly stated by the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan Sh.
Mirziyoyev, the main priority of our foreign policy is Central Asia region, which is associated with the
country's national interests. In his speech at the meeting of the UN General Assembly in September
2017, declaring the main directions of modern foreign policy of Uzbekistan, he stressed the
strengthening of interstate contacts and initiated the organization of the summit of the Heads of
states of Central Asia.
Practical confirmation of the priority of the Central Asian direction in the foreign policy of
Uzbekistan is the concrete political and diplomatic steps which have already taken towards
deepening relations with all countries of the region in all spheres of cooperation. The new regional
course of Uzbekistan has become a timely and effective response to the long-overdue issues of
regional rapprochement, restoration of trust and mutual understanding, as well as prompts solution
of the accumulated problems on the basis of reasonable compromises and taking into account the
interests of all parties.
A lucid example of this was the first consultative meeting of the heads of state of Central Asia,
which was held on March 15 this year in Astana, during which the parties discussed many
problematic issues of the regional agenda. Such areas of cooperation as trade and economic,
transport and communication, cultural and humanitarian spheres have received a new impetus, and
the solution of the issues of delimitation and demarcation of state borders has significantly
advanced. In 2017, the trade turnover of Uzbekistan with the countries of the region increased by
20%, and with individual States - by 70%, for the 1th half of 2018 – by 50%.
The improvement of trade and economic relations between the countries of Central Asia
contributed to the increase of investment attractiveness not only of the country, but also of the region
as a whole. In particular, in 2017 alone, Uzbekistan and foreign countries signed more than 200
international agreements, as well as contracts and agreements worth about $ 60 billion.
For the first time in 26 years, an Agreement on the state border between Uzbekistan and
Kyrgyzstan was signed, providing for the delimitation of 85% of state borders. Following the visit of
the Head of Uzbekistan to Tajikistan in early March this year, the parties approved the Agreement on
certain sections of the Uzbek-Tajik state border.
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