Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) – On 15-16 July Tashkent will host an international conference “Central and South Asia: Regional Connectivity. Challenges and Opportunities”. About 90 media representatives will arrive in Tashkent to cover the event.

The initiative to strengthen regional connectivity was put forward by the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev in the context of Tashkent’s new open foreign policy strategy. This idea is aimed at further deepening economic cooperation in Central Asia with access to South Asia, which is historically closely linked with our region in economic, social, cultural and civilizational dimensions.

High Level International Conference “Central and South Asia: Regional Connectivity. Challenges and Opportunities” is intended to form a political and expert platform for multilateral discussion of the model of a mutually beneficial strategic link “Central Asia - South Asia” in the transport and logistics, energy, trade, production, investment, technological, cultural and humanitarian spheres. The event will consist of an opening ceremony, one plenary session, three breakout sessions and a final part.

The conference will be attended by over 250 participants from more than 40 countries and international organizations that have confirmed their participation.

The opening ceremony of the International Institute of Central Asia (IICA) will take place in Tashkent on 15 July from 15:00 to 16:30. The opening ceremony of the institute is planned to be attended by foreign ministers of Central Asian countries and experts.

On 16 July, the work of the conference will begin with a plenary session on the theme "Central and South Asia: Regional Connectivity". During the meeting, an address by the UN Secretary-General António Guterres, speeches by the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev, as well as heads of foreign states and governments, ministers of foreign affairs, and international financial organizations are envisaged. During the meeting, the state and prospects for the development of interregional cooperation in Central and South Asia, successful examples of interaction, promising infrastructure projects of interconnection will be considered.

The first breakout session "Trade and Transport Connectivity for Sustainable Growth" will focus on:

- the prospects for the modernization of the economies of Central and South Asia in the context of strengthening interregional connectivity;

- opportunities for the development of transport and communication interconnection in Central and South Asia, including projects to expand existing and build new transport corridors; - priority areas of cooperation with foreign and international financial and investment institutions and other issues;

The second section "Revival of cultural and humanitarian ties as a way to strengthen friendship and mutual trust" will consider:

- cooperation in the field of study, preservation and promotion of the historical and cultural heritage of Central and South Asia;

- interaction in the fields of education, social support and protection of the interests of youth, health care, science and technology, ecology, tourism.

The third section “Regional security. Challenges and Threats” will focus on the prospects for regional cooperation in the fight against new threats and challenges, as well as in ensuring the security of cross-border infrastructure.