ORGANIZATION OF ISLAMIC COOPERATION:
NEW INITIATIVES - NEW DYNAMICS
Dilorom Mamatkulova,
leading research fellow,
the Institute for Strategic
and Regional Studies under
the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan.
Annotation
The article analyzes the intensification of cooperation between Uzbekistan and the Organization of Islamic
cooperation (OIC). The author gives her insights into the initiatives declared by the President of the Republic of
Uzbekistan Sh. Mirziyoyev at the First OIC Summit on Science and Technology. As well as this, she researches long-
term prospects and provides her own forecasts on Uzbekistan’s interaction with OIC member states in such fields
as economy, science, technology and culture.
The relevance of a dialogue among cultures and civilizations has been increasing because
of globalization. The OIC has significant impacts on strengthening tolerance, culture of mutual
respect and harmony not only in the Islamic world, but also among the representatives of
different religions and nations.
As a member of the OIC, Uzbekistan pays
special attention to enhancement of cooperation with
OIC structures in all key issues of mutual interest.
During 2016-2017 Uzbekistan officially run the
functions of the chairman of Council of Foreign
Ministers of the OIC. This not only demonstrated the
role of our state in the Islamic world and international
arena, but also strengthened the image of Uzbekistan
as an active, responsible performer of the
international law, who conducts the peaceful,
reasonable and balanced foreign policy and made an
important contribution to solving current vital
problems and challenges.
On 18-19 October 2016 the 43rd session of the OIC Council of Foreign Ministers
«Education and enlightenment - the path to peace and creation» took place in Tashkent. As a
result, the Ministers signed Tashkent Declaration which calls the OIC member states to intensify
joint efforts in ensuring the unity of the Muslim community, maintaining peace and security.
During the session, Sh.Mirziyoyev announced initiatives to establish Imam Al Bukhari
International Research Center in Samarkand and a special department of the Islamic
Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ISESCO) under the Tashkent Islamic University,
which received full support from all participants of the session.
At the first OIC Summit on Science & Technology on «Science, technology, innovation and
modernization in the Islamic world», held in September 2017 in Astana, the President
Sh.Mirziyoyev gave speech on new initiatives related to cooperation in the development of the
«smart agriculture» concept. Nowadays one of the most urgent global problems is a challenge
related to supporting the growing world population with affordable, natural and high-quality food.
FAO anticipates that in coming 30 years more than 70% of food will be needed to feed the
world population. Reducing the amount of fertile land, climate change, the high cost of energy
will seriously impede the production of sufficient food.
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