Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) – On 16 November, a meeting was held at the International Institute of Central Asia (MICA) with the President of the Malaysian Institute for Democracy and Economics (IDEAS) Tunku Zain Al-Abidin Ibni Tuanku Muhriz.

Tunku Zain Al-Abidin Ibni Tuanku Muhriz is Prince of the Royal Family of the Malaysian state of Negeri Sembilan, founder and president of the Malaysian Institute for Democracy and Economics.

The Institute for Democracy and Economics (IDEAS) is a Malaysian think tank dedicated to promoting market-based solutions to public policy problems. It was founded on 8 February 2010.

Zayn Al-Abidin highly appreciated the policy of the President of Uzbekistan and the reforms of the development of New Uzbekistan carried out under his leadership:

“Today, Uzbekistan shows the world community its rapid economic and political growth, and the reforms carried out by the President of Uzbekistan are several years ahead of the reforms carried out in Malaysia.

We are watching with great interest how your republic has entered a new period of its development, focusing on economic reforms, a policy of open diplomacy and good neighborly relations.”

The President of IDEAS also focused on issues of climate change and its impact on the region, as well as the policy of building mutually beneficial relations between Uzbekistan and the countries of Central Asia.

At the end of the meeting, Zain Al-Abidin announced his readiness to establish cooperation with MICA and proposed to work out the issue of holding a joint round table on economic, cultural and humanitarian issues upon his return to Malaysia.