Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) - On 31 May, an international webinar on the topic "New, pragmatic and active foreign policy of Uzbekistan" was held online. The organizer of this event was the Development Strategy Center.

The videoconference was attended by foreign experts from the Institute for Central Asia Regional Economic Cooperation (CAREC), St Andrews University (UK), Queensland University (Australia), Free University of Berlin (Germany) and Lanzhou University (China). The Uzbek side was represented by research workers of the Institute for Strategic and Interregional Studies (ISMI) under the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan, CERR, IACMO and MICA.

During the event, a thorough exchange of views took place on conceptual issues of forming a new image of Uzbekistan in the international arena, modern directions and main priorities of the country’s foreign policy activity, as well as the results and results of the comprehensive work done in recent years in the field of foreign policy were discussed.

Speaking at the event, the expert of ISMI Aziz Karimov dwelled on these issues separately. In particular, in his report, the representative of the "think tank" highlighted the main distinctive features and characteristic features of the foreign policy strategy of the new Uzbekistan. The main guiding principles are the imperatives of multilateralism, proactivity, openness, constructivism and pragmatism.

In this vein, special emphasis is placed on the active use of pragmatic approaches by Uzbekistan in foreign policy. Thanks to this, according to Karimov, the country is building a successful model of relations with the countries of near and far abroad, the geography of trade and economic relations of the republic is expanding at a rapid pace. So, today the number of foreign economic partners of Uzbekistan exceeds 190 states.

The expert called the humanization of foreign policy activity another important principle. This is manifested in the increased concern of the state for the interests of citizens abroad and the assistance that Uzbekistan provides to neighboring countries and peoples in a difficult humanitarian situation.

The expert also paid special attention to the principle of constructivism, which began to prevail in the foreign policy of Uzbekistan. The practical implementation of this approach contributed to the settlement of the systemic problems accumulated in Central Asia, a radical change in the nature of interstate relations and the strengthening of regional economic cooperation.

Such a situation today makes it possible to effectively contain the negative consequences of the global epidemiological crisis. In particular, despite the most difficult consequences of the pandemic, at the end of 2020, the economic growth rate of the Central Asian states decreased by only 2.5 percent, and the volume of intraregional trade remained at the level of $ 5 billion, which is 2.5 times more than in 2016.

In general, the participants of the event gave high marks to the modern foreign policy strategy of Uzbekistan. Experts also agreed that Tashkent’s proactive foreign policy in various directions, focused on pragmatism and support for regional unity, is the republic’s contribution to the efforts of the international community to ensure international peace and sustainable development.