Presentation of Research Report on Regional Cooperation in Central Asia Held at ISMI

Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) — On 14 November, ahead of the seventh Consultative Meeting of Central Asian Heads of State (CMCA), the Institute for Strategic and Military Studies (ISMI) hosted the presentation of a discussion-based research report titled “Towards the Development of Regional Cooperation in Central Asia.”

The event brought together heads and staff of diplomatic missions from Central Asian countries and the European Union, representatives of international organizations including the Regional Centre for Preventive Diplomacy for Central Asia, UN and OSCE project coordinators in Uzbekistan, as well as leading experts from national analytical and academic institutions.

Notably, the report represents the first collaborative product of the expert community across Central Asia. Prepared as a discussion-oriented research study, it analyzes prospects for regional cooperation in the region, drawing on seven years of discussions on various expert platforms. The draft report was also reviewed at the 8th Central Asian Expert Forum held in Tashkent on 14–15 August 2025.

The document provides a retrospective analysis summarizing past experience in regional interaction and offers proposals for further mutually beneficial cooperation. The report received high praise from attendees, with particular recognition of the timeliness and importance of the initiative by the Uzbek side.

Tajikistan’s Ambassador to Uzbekistan, Abduljabbor Rahmonzoda, noted that “the report is a thorough, systematized study containing extensive factual material necessary to understand the historical stages of intergovernmental interaction in Central Asia.” He emphasized that the document could serve as a key foundation for further development of the regional intellectual space and recommended translating it into all regional languages to make it accessible to a wider audience.

EU Ambassador to Uzbekistan, Toivo Klaar, highlighted the report’s relevance, noting that regional integration is never an easy process. “It took the EU 75 years to achieve integration, while Central Asia has achieved remarkable results in a short time,” he said, emphasizing Brussels’ full support for regional convergence processes and its interest in expanding partnerships with Central Asian countries.

Participants recognized the report as a comprehensive study with numerous practical recommendations, capable of serving as a starting point for developing regional cooperation narratives. Barbara Janusz-Pawletta, head of the regional office of the International Water Management Institute, suggested paying greater attention to cooperation in education and science to foster deeper integration in Central Asia. According to her, this will help cultivate a new generation that forms the foundation for strengthening regional interaction.

The event concluded with experts expressing interest in continuing joint research on regional dynamics and preparing further publications in this field.