Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) -- Ambassador of Uzbekistan to Malaysia Ravshan Usmanov met with the founder and head of the Institute for Democracy and Economic Affairs of Malaysia (Institute for Democracy and Economic Affairs - IDEAS), Prince of the Malaysian state of Negeri-Sembilan Zain Al-Abidin, Dunyo news agency reported.

IDEAS, established in 2006 in the UK as an independent non-profit research organization, was re-registered in Malaysia in 2010. The Institute is one of the leading think tanks in the Southeast Asia region to research topical issues of further strengthening democratic institutions and economic development in Malaysia, as well as regional and international agendas. In particular, the main mission of IDEAS is to increase the level of understanding and acceptance of public policies based on the principles of the rule of law, limited government interference in the economy and the free market.

The Institute conducts various research in the above areas by establishing a dialogue between the government, legislators, business and civil society, and also provides recommendations to the Malaysian ministry and departments to strengthen their institutional framework and further liberalize the country’s economy.

During the talks, Zain Al-Abidin highly appreciated the large-scale reforms being implemented in Uzbekistan aimed at further liberalizing and modernizing the economy, improving public administration and the judicial system of the country.

The sides welcomed the noticeable intensification of the Malaysian-Uzbek relations observed in recent years. In his opinion, the parties have great potential for the further development of cooperation in the political, trade, economic, investment, cultural and humanitarian spheres.

He also praised the measures taken by President Shavkat Mirziyoyev to support the population and business entities during the pandemic.

The sides also exchanged views on topical aspects of international and regional politics.

As a result of the negotiations, agreements were reached on studying the possibility of establishing cooperation between IDEAS and the Institute for Strategic and Regional Studies under the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan, the Institute for International Applied Research under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Institute for Legislation and Parliamentary Research under the Oliy Majlis and the Higher School of Diplomacy under the University of World Economy and Diplomacy.

In addition, the Malaysian side expressed its readiness to jointly organize presentation events dedicated to Uzbekistan, its historical and cultural heritage, modern development and potential.