Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.uz) — On 23 September, First Deputy Director of the Institute for Strategic and Regional Studies (ISMI) under the President of Uzbekistan (ISRS) Akramjon Nematov took part in Yntymak Week, an annual inclusive platform bringing together representatives of government agencies, civil society, academic and expert circles, young people and the international community.
This year, the forum is being held at Ala-Too International University under the theme “Youth and Women in Local Community Development and Peacebuilding.” The National Agency for Religious Affairs and Interethnic Relations under the President of the Kyrgyz Republic is the national partner.
The programme covers social cohesion, the participation of women and youth, natural resource management, climate resilience and local community development.
Representatives of government and public administration bodies, research and educational institutions, civil society and international organisations, including from Central Asian countries, are taking part in the events.
Speaking at the opening ceremony, Kyrgyz State Secretary Arslan Koichiev highlighted the importance of Yntymak Week as a platform for strengthening peace, mutual understanding and social harmony, noting the particular role of youth and women as active participants in positive change in local communities.
Yntymak Week has been held since 2023 and was conceived as a space for direct interaction among the state, civil society, international partners, local communities, businesses, media and expert circles on peacebuilding and social cohesion. The initiative has gradually acquired a broader regional dimension.
An important stage in this process was the first Ferghana Peace Forum, held by ISRS and its partners in Ferghana in 2025. As part of the forum, Uzbekistan hosted its first dedicated “Yntymak Day,” bringing together government bodies, civil society, youth and women’s organisations, academic circles and international organisations around efforts to strengthen trust and good-neighbourly relations in the Ferghana Valley.
During the current Yntymak Week, Nematov spoke at a special session titled “Central Asia: From a Common Past to a Common Future,” dedicated to the formation and strengthening of Central Asian regional identity.
The session brought together representatives of government agencies, universities and expert communities, civil society and youth. The discussion focused on a draft Concept for the Formation and Strengthening of Central Asian Regional Identity being developed by a group of specialists from countries across the region.
Participants included not only representatives of Ala-Too International University, but also students from other Bishkek universities — Balasagyn Kyrgyz National University, International University of Kyrgyzstan and International University in Central Asia. This broader representation expanded the youth discussion and incorporated different perspectives from students representing diverse educational environments in the Kyrgyz capital.
As noted during the discussion, the document is initially being considered not as an initiative of a single country or individual analytical centre, but as a joint intellectual product of Central Asia.
The draft has undergone multi-stage discussions involving scholars, experts, representatives of analytical institutions, civil society and young people from countries across the region. Each discussion has been used to further develop its content and take different approaches into account.
In the updated version, the main emphasis is not on artificially constructing a new or supranational identity, but on strengthening an existing sense of regional belonging based on interconnected historical and cultural heritage, contemporary experience of cooperation, shared values and a common vision of the future.
It was particularly stressed that regional identity is intended to provide broad public support for closer ties in Central Asia and give these processes a sustainable, long-term character. Intergovernmental agreements become stronger when cooperation has practical significance for people through education, academic mobility, trade, travel, joint projects, and cultural and human connections.
“Regional identity cannot be established exclusively through intergovernmental decisions.
It becomes sustainable when a network of relationships emerges among universities, cities, regions, entrepreneurs, journalists, researchers, creative communities, and youth and women’s organisations,” Nematov said.
According to him, modern regional identity should be based not only on historical proximity, but above all on shared values and a common vision of the future.
“History explains why we are close. Contemporary cooperation shows what we can do together. And a shared vision of the future answers the most important question — why do we need a sense of regional belonging today?” the ISRS representative stressed.
At the same time, regional identity is viewed as an additional level of belonging that does not replace national identity. It allows people to maintain a strong connection with their country, culture and traditions while also recognising their belonging to the common Central Asian space.
The practical part of the session was held in an interactive format. Experts, scholars, civil society representatives and students from various Bishkek universities worked in groups to develop proposals for further improving the draft Concept.
Participants discussed possible barriers and sensitive issues, as well as measures needed to ensure that regional identity is reflected in citizens’ everyday lives. Particular attention was given to the role of education, academic exchanges, youth initiatives and direct people-to-people contacts in building sustainable ties within the region.
Thus, youth participation became not only part of the event programme, but also one of the tools for substantive development of the Concept. The involvement of students from different Bishkek universities provided a broader range of youth perspectives and demonstrated demand for open inter-university dialogue on Central Asia’s future.
This approach made it possible to continue developing the document from the “bottom up,” with society serving not as an object in the formation of a regional community, but as a direct participant and co-author.
During his stay in Bishkek, Nematov also met with the leadership of the Swiss PeaceNexus Foundation — Executive Director Catriona Gourlay and Board Member Dieter von Blarer.
The parties discussed the dynamics of regional cooperation in Central Asia, the development of partnership between ISRS and PeaceNexus, and prospects for joint support for expert and public initiatives aimed at strengthening trust, social cohesion and regional identity.
The Foundation’s representatives highly assessed the level of consolidation achieved by the Central Asian states and expressed readiness to continue joint work on developing regional dialogue and peacebuilding initiatives.
A separate meeting was held with Nazira Esenalieva, rector of Ala-Too International University.
The meeting addressed prospects for expanding cooperation among Central Asian states in higher education, developing direct inter-university ties, implementing joint educational and research programmes, and expanding academic, student and faculty exchanges.
It was emphasised that academic mobility and sustained interaction among universities are important factors in strengthening regional cohesion. Regular contacts among students, teachers and young researchers expand mutual knowledge of the countries in the region, create new professional and personal ties, and provide a practical foundation for long-term regional cooperation.
Following Yntymak Week, the Institute for Strategic and Regional Studies under the President of Uzbekistan received a certificate of appreciation from the Peacebuilding Hub for its contribution to advancing peacebuilding initiatives, strengthening dialogue and developing regional cooperation.
The Hub brings together international and civil society organisations working in peacebuilding and social cohesion and serves as a platform for coordination, exchange of experience and development of joint approaches.
ISRS’s participation in Yntymak Week continued the Institute’s ongoing work with partners from Central Asian states and international organisations to strengthen the public foundations of regional rapprochement and mutual trust, and to promote Central Asia as a space for peace, good-neighbourly relations and shared development.
