Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) - On 14-15 September, a two-day scientific and practical conference on the theme: "The contribution of the Leaders of Uzbekistan and Tajikistan to strengthening friendship, good-neighborliness and trust, opening a new page of the Tajik-Uzbek strategic partnership" is being held in Dushanbe.

The event, organized by the National Academy of Sciences of Tajikistan together with the Academy of Sciences of the Republic of Uzbekistan and the Institute for Strategic and Interregional Studies under the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan, brought together leaders, prominent scientists and leading experts of research, analytical structures and higher educational institutions of the two countries.

The scientific forum was attended by about 200 representatives of more than 15 leading research institutes, analytical centers and higher educational institutions of Tajikistan. Among them are the National Academy of Sciences, the Academy of Public Administration, the Center for Strategic Studies, the Institute for Political Processes, Diplomacy and Globalization and others.

During the conference, scientists and experts of Tajikistan made reports on the role and contribution of the leaders of the two countries in strengthening friendship and good-neighborliness between the Uzbek and Tajik peoples, deepening and expanding bilateral strategic cooperation between countries, ensuring security and sustainable development of the entire Central Asian region.

In particular, President of the National Academy of Sciences of Tajikistan F. Rahimi in his speech emphasized that it is the fraternal, humanly very sincere friendship of the Presidents of the two states that today is a powerful guarantor for achieving new historical successes in improving the well-being of the peoples of both countries. In his words, only three years have passed since that historic date when, by the free will of the presidents, by their wise decision, friendly relations between countries were revived at a qualitatively new level, borders were opened, all forms of economic, cultural and scientific cooperation were re-established.

Everyone witnessed those unforgettable days when our peoples, from small to large, with what joyful emotions they perceived this historically very important fact of the revival of good relations between the peoples of Tajikistan and Uzbekistan. This can be considered the beginning of a new page in the history of our relations, - stated the academician.

This obliges us, today’s intelligentsia of Tajikistan and Uzbekistan, to fulfill a new historical mission to implement the wise decisions of the political leadership of our countries, - F. Rahimi concluded his speech with such an appeal.

We are all proud, said Asliddin Nizamov, doctor of art history, head of the department of art history of the National Academy of Sciences of Tajikistan, that the leaders of our countries in one happy moment of history for our peoples, having shown goodwill and the highest level of understanding of the world, hand in hand restored the richest traditions of friendship and mutual understanding that had developed over millennia between our peoples.

According to the Tajik scientist, the future fate of the Central Asian region - one of the most ancient cradles of world civilization directly depends on how faithfully and fruitfully we can cooperate in the field of culture in order to revive the former glory of our science and spirituality in general. Today, as, indeed, always, it is spirituality that strengthens the creative basis in the intellectual sphere, because spiritual energy generates social activity and a sense of unity, which in turn creates conditions for economic growth and political stability.

In this regard, A. Nizamov called on the scientific community to take measures to strengthen cultural contacts between Tajikistan and Uzbekistan, because, as he believes, only in this way will we be able to avoid and prevent possible confrontational phenomena, because our rich cultural values are able to form in our a multinational society, a strong sense of fraternal unity and protection from many future geopolitical and geocultural troubles.

Director of the Center for Strategic Studies under the President of the Republic of Tajikistan, Professor Ziyoi Khurshed Makhshulzoda noted the great potential of cooperation between the countries, pointing out that by using the bilateral opportunities as effectively as possible, Uzbekistan and Tajikistan, under the leadership of the two leaders of states, were able to achieve the highest level of political relations between countries and peoples in the shortest possible time. At the same time, in his words, the personal contribution of the heads of state to strengthening friendship, good neighborliness and trust, opening a new page in Tajik-Uzbek relations of strategic partnership is very significant, both for the two friendly neighboring states and for all their citizens.

This strategic partnership in the political sphere can also be strengthened by creating a new constructive atmosphere of interaction in the region, cooperation in the fight against modern challenges and threats, with extremism, terrorism and drug trafficking, partnership in the field of security and in other areas, said Professor Ziyoi Khurshed Makhshulzoda.

Academician Karomatullo Olimov also spoke out for the comprehensive strengthening of cooperation between the two countries and peoples, stressing that for representatives of the two fraternal peoples - Tajiks and Uzbeks, now in conditions of state independence, there is a wide field for cooperation, joint research for the benefit of our peoples and the development of science.

At the same time, the Tajik academician named the friendship and cooperation of prominent philosophers of Tajikistan and Uzbekistan, academician A.M. Bogoutdinov and academician I.M. Muminov as an example to follow, and the most striking example of fraternal friendship, its political foundation - sincere fraternal relations of the President of Tajikistan Emomali Rahmon and President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev, who, according to the scientist, "performed a feat by opening the borders, contributed to the strengthening of friendship between our states and peoples."

That is why Academician Karomatullo Olimov called on scientists of the two countries to expand scientific cooperation, to jointly study the great heritage stored in the manuscript funds of the countries, as well as to jointly research the urgent problems of the modern world in a spirit of mutual respect and devotion.