Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) – On 23 December 2020, a virtual meeting of the international discussion club on the topic "New Uzbekistan - a new worldview: prospects for international cooperation in parliament", organized by the Legislative Chamber of the Oliy Majlis in cooperation with the Institute for Strategic and Interregional Studies (ISMI) and the National Movement "Yuksalish", was held.

The online discussion was attended by deputies of the Oliy Majlis, representatives of civil society institutions, research and analytical structures, diplomatic missions and international organizations (OSCE, UN, UNICEF) accredited in Uzbekistan, as well as the media.

During the meeting, 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.

Opening the event, the First Deputy Speaker of the Legislative Chamber Akmal Saidov focused on the growing role of Uzbekistan in shaping not only the regional, but also the global agenda that directly affects the security and sustainable development of the international community.

In particular, the activity of Uzbekistan in international lawmaking - the procedure for the development and adoption of conceptual documents aimed at resolving various problems at the center of the global agenda - was noted. According to A. Saidov, since 2016, on the initiative of the President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev, four resolutions have been adopted within the framework of the UN, aimed at improving the foundations and mechanisms of international cooperation in tourism, regional interaction, interfaith understanding, and sustainable development.

A number of important initiatives put forward by the Head of our country during the past meeting of the 75th UN General Assembly, which became a solid contribution of the republic to the development of the creative processes of globalization, were especially emphasized. Among them are proposals for the development of an International Code on voluntary commitments of world states during a pandemic and the adoption of a UN General Assembly resolution on enhancing the role of parliaments in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals and ensuring human rights.

The parliamentarian also touched upon the issue of strengthening the role of parliamentary diplomacy in the foreign policy of the new Uzbekistan. According to him, today the parliament, which traditionally plays an important role in creating the legal basis for bilateral and multilateral relations with foreign countries and international organizations, is becoming an important mechanism for implementing the goals and objectives of the renewed Uzbekistan.

In this context, the adoption of the “Concept of Parliamentary Diplomacy of the Republic of Uzbekistan” in the legislative body and the formation of 48 groups of inter-parliamentary friendship in recent years are indicated. A high assessment was given to the potential of parliamentary diplomacy in strengthening mutual ties with parliaments of foreign countries and developing proposals for further cooperation.

Developing this topic, the first deputy director of the ISMI Akromjon Nematov stressed that today the Oliy Majlis is turning into a full-fledged subject in the formation of the foreign policy agenda and takes on the role of a reliable guide of the country’s foreign policy priorities and national interests in the international arena.

In his report, the ISMI expert also presented a comprehensive systematic analysis of the most important changes in the foreign policy of Uzbekistan, which highlighted the distinctive features, basic principles and goals of the updated foreign policy strategy that shape the image of New Uzbekistan.

The main guiding principles are the imperatives of multilateralism, proactivity, openness, constructivism, pragmatism and humanism, as well as peacefulness and good neighborliness.

In this vein, special emphasis is placed on the processes of democratization of the country’s foreign policy. According to A. Nematov, dialogue with the people, which has been declared a key principle of the activities of state authorities and administration, in recent years has actually turned into an open dialogue with the outside world. This is evidenced by the growing role of the public in the formation of the foreign policy agenda and the expansion of the range of actors involved in its implementation.

Another important principle, which began to prevail in the country’s foreign policy, the expert called the humanization of foreign policy. 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 who find themselves in a difficult humanitarian situation.

A. Nematov also paid special attention to the constructive, pragmatic and peaceful nature of the newly introduced foreign policy, which is based on the principles of mutual trust and mutual consideration of interests. The practical implementation of these approaches, according to the expert, contributed to the settlement of the problems accumulated in Central Asia that hinder the development of interregional relations.

If earlier the region was viewed as a powder keg or a tangle of intractable differences, today Central Asia is turning into a zone of stability, good-neighborliness and peace. Our goal is for the region to become a space for mutually beneficial cooperation, A. Nematov noted.

All Central Asian states without exception are becoming beneficiaries of such a transformation in the perception of the region in the world. This is evidenced by the improvement in the aggregate economic indicators of the countries of the region. In particular, in 2019 compared to 2016, the total GDP of the region increased by 19.6%, and the total volume of foreign trade - by 56%. At the same time, the total volume of attracted investments for the specified period showed an increase of 40%. I am convinced that, despite the consequences of the pandemic, adherence to the chosen course of regional cooperation will keep the dynamics of growth in the region in the long term, said the representative of the ISMS.

Fully supporting this opinion, the Ambassador of Tajikistan to Uzbekistan - Sodik Imomi noted that the regional policy of Uzbekistan, which meets the long-term fundamental interests of the entire region, has radically changed the political climate in Central Asia. The diplomat expressed his conviction that the positive changes taking place in the region are becoming irreversible.

In turn, the Deputy Coordinator of OSCE projects in Uzbekistan Hans-Ulrich Im focused on the large-scale internal political reforms being carried out in the republic, including in the field of human rights and economic modernization.

According to the representative of the international organization, the national strategy of Uzbekistan is fully consonant with the commitments, goals and principles of the OSCE. In this context, the Organization expressed its readiness to provide comprehensive support in pursuing a reformist policy and interest in the consistent development of cooperation with the Uzbek side.

In general, the participants in the online dialogue agreed that Tashkent’s use of new comprehensive approaches, which supplemented the previous model of the republic’s foreign policy strategy with important adjustments, secures Uzbekistan’s status of a responsible and predictable partner in the international arena, and also creates favorable external conditions for the country’s modernization and its economy on an innovative path of development. According to them, such a policy can serve as an exemplary model for many countries in conditions when international relations are experiencing a crisis of trust, a lack of dialogue and mutually beneficial cooperation.