Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) - On 25 October, an international Uzbek-Russian conference “International Humanitarian Cooperation. Experience and prospects.”

The event was held within the framework of the practical implementation of intergovernmental agreements between the Government of the Republic of Uzbekistan and the Government of the Russian Federation in the field of educational and humanitarian cooperation, as well as in the framework of the State Program of 2019, announced by Decree of the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev “The Year of Active Investments and Social Development” and the National Strategy of Actions for 2017-2021.

The event was attended by partners of the fund from Uzbekistan and Russia in the field of education, medicine, Internet communications, social business. The main objective of the event was to review the experience of the International Women's Public Fund “Sharq Ayoli” and celebrate the 20th anniversary of the organization. This fund is one of the most active participants in civil society in Uzbekistan. The event was opened by Butaev Utkir Muminovich, Deputy Chairman of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of the Republic of Uzbekistan, who outlined the most pressing issues of cooperation.

The event was moderated by the head of the Sharq Ayoli Foundation, Saodat Gafurovna Tursunbaeva. In her welcoming speech, Lyudmila Viktorovna Koshelapova, a member of the Committee on Democratic Institutions of non-governmental organizations and self-government bodies of citizens of the Legislative Chamber of the Oliy Majlis of the Republic of Uzbekistan emphasized the importance of developing civil society, the role of women's organizations in solving pressing social issues.

From Russia, Alexey Polkovnikov, Director General of the Russian Humanitarian Mission, spoke about his experience of cooperation, who presented the implementation of humanitarian projects in Uzbekistan. Volkov Oleg - Director of the Education Campaign “GledLingvo” (Moscow) presented the free module “Class of the international Internet platform for schools, universities and other educational institutions”. The event was also attended by representatives of the Saratov region. Director of the Eurasia-Volga Information and Analytical Center (Saratov, RF) Marina Lapenko, in her speech, noted the importance of developing inter-regional cooperation between the Republic of Uzbekistan and the Saratov Region, which has a serious investment potential and has a unique transport hub - trade routes intersect in the region North-South and West-East, there is a developed railway transport, water transport along the Volga, a new international airport named after A.Yu. Gagarin has been opened and it is planned to launch a paid Meridian Highway, which is part of the Shanghai-Hamburg route.

Saratov region is interested in enhancing trade and economic cooperation, industrial cooperation and increasing export opportunities. Saratov entrepreneurs annually take part in business missions and economic forums on the territory of the Republic of Uzbekistan.

Marina Lapenko drew the attention of those present to the need for a more detailed consideration of the opportunities that are opening up in connection with the development of Eurasian integration. This is not only the removal of barriers and restrictions that exporters from Uzbekistan are currently facing, but also the prospects for entering foreign markets through the mechanism of free trade zones. So the current and developing agreements provide an opportunity to enter the markets of Southeast Asia, the Middle East, Africa, and also in the long term and to enter the markets of Latin America.

The issue of prospects for cooperation between the Republic of Uzbekistan and the EEAS should be mutually beneficial. For this, it is necessary to combine the efforts of authorities, representatives of the Chamber of Commerce and various public organizations.