Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) -- On 28 November 2019, an international “round table” was held in Tashkent on the topic “People’s diplomacy: a strategic resource for promoting national interests”.

The event was organized by the Senate Committee of the Oliy Majlis of the Republic of Uzbekistan on international relations, foreign economic relations, foreign investment and tourism, together with the SCO Center for Public Diplomacy in Uzbekistan and the Regional Representation of the Konrad Adenauer Foundation for Central Asia.

The event was attended by senators, deputies, representatives of ministries and departments, national, foreign experts and representatives of diplomatic missions of the SCO member countries, scientists and specialists, as well as representatives of national and foreign media.

It was emphasized that the institution of public diplomacy is of particular importance as a positive factor in promoting national interests and strengthening international relations. The activities of public associations, the initiatives of international non-governmental organizations aimed at strengthening the interaction of countries and peoples undoubtedly contribute to their further rapprochement based on the consideration of national interests.

Speakers noted that recently, public diplomacy has become one of the main factors in international relations. At the same time, public associations and organizations, international non-governmental organizations are actively involved in this process, contacts are made at the level of twin cities, social and political actions of various thematic focuses are held, and ties between youth and women’s organizations are strengthened and developed. All this is aimed, first of all, at strengthening bilateral and multilateral relations between countries.

The attention of the participants was focused on the role of parliamentary diplomacy as one of the important areas of public diplomacy. It was noted that the intensification of inter-parliamentary relations between countries takes into account the interests of each people, is an important component of interstate relations.

It was noted that public diplomacy is also implemented in the framework of the activities of national cultural centers and friendship societies, which is aimed at strengthening friendship and mutual understanding between peoples. The efforts of these public organizations undertaken in the framework of public diplomacy serve to establish good-neighborly relations between the peoples of the countries.

The role of the SCO Public Diplomacy Center in Uzbekistan was especially emphasized, created on the initiative of the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan Sh. Mirziyoyev and envisaging the use of public diplomacy mechanisms in order to strengthen Uzbekistan’s ties with the countries of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization. In a relatively short time, the Center has established and is developing partnerships with public and similar organizations of individual SCO countries. Joint events are being held with the participation of the Development Strategy Center, the OSCE Project Coordinator in Uzbekistan, the SCO China Committee for Good Neighborhood, Friendship and Cooperation, and the Yuksalish National Movement.

The topic of discussion of the international round table was also the issues of further strengthening and developing the institutions of public diplomacy through youth organizations, education, culture, and twin cities. Participants were informed about the experience of the Federal Republic of Germany in this direction.

The event was held in the form of an open dialogue and exchange of views, as a result of which the participants agreed on the need to further strengthen and develop the institution of public diplomacy as an important factor in promoting national interests.