Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) -- On 17 February 2020, the First Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Uzbekistan Ilkhom Nematov held a briefing in the conference hall of the Embassy of Uzbekistan in Bishkek for representatives of the media and the expert and political science community of Kyrgyzstan.

During the event, the main provisions of the Address of President Shavkat Mirziyoyev to the Oliy Majlis of Uzbekistan, which proposed to call 2020 the “Year of the development of science, education and the digital economy,” were brought to the participants. Attention was focused on the initiatives of the leadership of the republic to continue the wide-ranging reforms indicated in the Development Strategy in five main areas in 2017-2021, as well as to further strengthen good-neighborly and mutually beneficial relations with the countries of the region.

Associate Professor of the Department of Political Science of the Kyrgyz-Russian Slavic University Nargiz Muratalieva, highly appreciating the contents of the Message of the head of our state, noted that this message of the Uzbek leader strengthens the feedback not only between all branches of government, but also between society and government. As the expert emphasized, only those countries that have a strategic vision of clear goals and objectives can apply for sustained and sustainable development. The expert listed in detail the achievements of Uzbekistan in the economic sphere: the growth of GDP, exports and the number of tourists. Special attention was paid to the decision of the British journal Economist to recognize Uzbekistan as the "country of the year."

Almaz Tajybai, Executive Director of the Kyrgyz Council on Foreign Relations and Security, noted that the words of the leader of Uzbekistan do not diverge. Uzbekistan is a country that acts as a key guarantor of security in Central Asia. Thanks to the firm political will and wisdom of President Shavkat Mirziyoyev, today Uzbekistan is productively pursuing a multi-vector foreign policy, maintaining its sovereignty, and is balanced in dialogue with major world centers. According to the expert, Uzbekistan acts as a locomotive in promoting integration processes in Central Asia and is able to unite all neighboring countries without the intervention of external forces.

Participants in the briefing emphasized that the President of Uzbekistan’s initiative to fight corruption, ensure the rule of law, human rights, freedom of speech, and accountability of district and regional leaders to local Kengashes deserves special attention.

During the briefing, answers were given to questions of interest to journalists and experts regarding the Uzbek-Kyrgyz relations and modern foreign policy of Uzbekistan as a whole.