President of Uzbekistan Advocates for Further Expansion of Practical Cooperation within the CIS

Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) — On 10 October, the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan, Shavkat Mirziyoyev, took part in the regular meeting of the Council of Heads of State of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS), held in Dushanbe under the chairmanship of Tajik President Emomali Rahmon.

The summit brought together the leaders of Azerbaijan, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Turkmenistan, the Prime Minister of Armenia, as well as the CIS Secretary-General, Sergey Lebedev.

During the session, key areas of practical cooperation within the Commonwealth were discussed. In his address, the President of Uzbekistan emphasized that despite the unpredictability of global politics and economics, the CIS remains resilient and in demand, providing a platform for joint work on economic, social, and humanitarian issues. He noted Uzbekistan’s interest in further strengthening cooperation and enhancing the effectiveness of interaction with partner states.

The Head of State proposed a number of initiatives aimed at developing practical cooperation within the CIS. Priority areas included the expansion of economic partnerships in the context of global challenges and protectionist trends; simplification of procedures for the delivery of goods, particularly agricultural products; creation of mechanisms for rapid response to changes in external conditions; and the harmonization of technical barriers and conformity assessment documents.

In the transport sector, the President drew attention to existing bottlenecks in transportation networks and proposed the establishment of integrated information and logistics centers covering all modes of transport, as well as the organization of a conference on developing public-private partnerships in the transport industry.

Regarding investment and industrial cooperation, proposals included the preparation of a roadmap to support special economic and industrial zones, the creation of a CIS Venture Platform to promote innovative startups, and the holding of a CIS Innovation Industry Forum in Tashkent in 2026, based on the INNOPROM exhibition.

President Mirziyoyev also highlighted the importance of developing energy cooperation, proposing the creation of a long-term Program for the Innovative Development of the Energy Sector within CIS countries. In the field of digitalization, he suggested preparing a multilateral Action Plan to deepen cooperation in artificial intelligence technologies.

Special attention was given to collaboration in science, education, culture, and the arts. Among the proposals were the preparation of a new Intergovernmental Agreement on the mutual recognition of diplomas and qualifications, the introduction of mechanisms to harmonize professional standards, and the organization of a CIS Youth Forum in Khiva, including the establishment of a Youth Laboratory to support the innovation ecosystem and intellectual potential of the younger generation.

Touching on regional security, Shavkat Mirziyoyev emphasized the need for systematic contacts between foreign policy agencies and intelligence services, particularly in view of the situation in Afghanistan, and proposed joint participation of CIS countries in major investment and infrastructure projects in that country.

In conclusion, the President expressed support for the reappointment of Sergey Lebedev as CIS Secretary-General and extended his best wishes to President of Turkmenistan Serdar Berdimuhamedow in connection with Turkmenistan’s chairmanship of the organization.

At the end of the session, a package of agreements and decisions was signed, outlining priority areas of cooperation within the CIS framework.