Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) -- On 25 December 2020, a round table was held on the topic “Concept for the development of the CIS. Rebooting and Adapting Cooperation Mechanisms”, organized by the University of World Economy and Diplomacy in the online format.

The round table was attended by leading researchers from the University of World Economy and Diplomacy, Tashkent State University of Economics and the National University of Uzbekistan.

During the event, the evolution of the CIS at the present stage, the features of integration processes within the framework of the Commonwealth and Uzbekistan’s initiatives to develop cooperation were considered. Particular attention wass paid to studying the results and achieved results of Uzbekistan’s activities during the chairmanship in the CIS.

Opening the event, the Dean of the Faculty of International Relations of the UWED Murat Bakhadirov noted that the CIS remains relevant as a demanded multidisciplinary organization capable of adapting to the emerging international situation. Uzbekistan’s chairmanship in the Commonwealth fell on a difficult period, which was successfully overcome.

The meeting of the Council of CIS Heads of State held under the chairmanship of the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev on 18 December 2020 made it possible to draw a line under the joint efforts adopted in the CIS. In his speech, the head of Uzbekistan submitted for general consideration a number of initiatives for a stage-by-stage approach to a qualitatively new level of cooperation, increasing the efficiency of interaction mechanisms within the CIS.

Developing this idea, Akram Umarov, senior lecturer of the Department of International Relations of the UWED, noted that Uzbekistan has adequately held its chairmanship during the difficult 2020. Despite the quarantine restrictions and the impossibility of holding traditional international meetings, almost all planned events in online and offline formats have been successfully organized, and a number of important documents have been adopted on priority areas of cooperation within the organization.

Fully supporting this opinion, the professor of the Department of Political Science of the UWED Etibor Sultanova noted that the need to consolidate the efforts of the Commonwealth countries is becoming urgent, which will contribute to the optimal way out of the crisis caused by the coronavirus pandemic in a new reality in the world.

In turn, the senior lecturer of the Department of International Relations of the UWED Nargis Muminova in her report analyzed the process of adaptation of the CIS in the current international conditions. She showed the importance and timeliness of Uzbekistan’s initiatives during the chairmanship in the CIS.

Fully supporting the above opinions, Professor of the Department of World Economy and International Economic Relations of the UWED Nishanbai Sirojiddinov, in his speech, touched upon the economic foundations of cooperation within the CIS. He touched upon the existing problems in the field of trade, customs, etc. The process of creating a free trade zone in which Uzbekistan intends to intensify its participation was noted as a separate moment.

In turn, Ulugbek Khasanov, the head of Department of International Relations of UWED, noted that in the context of the ongoing global recession caused by the pandemic, many countries are making efforts to support the social sphere and stimulate economies, enhance investment and restore business activity.

These are the priorities that were highlighted in the agenda of the recent CIS, held for the first time under the chairmanship of Uzbekistan.

Considering the sociological aspects of Uzbekistan’s chairmanship in the CIS, Associate Professor of the Department of Sociology at the National University of Uzbekistan Azamat Seitov focused on the fact that public opinion in Uzbekistan as a whole positively assesses the country’s participation in the CIS. The public opinion of Uzbekistan emphasizes the issue of increasing the efficiency of cooperation in the field of social and legal protection of citizens of the CIS countries who work in the states of the Commonwealth.

In general, the population of Uzbekistan is confident that the CIS contributes to maintaining peace in the post-Soviet space, strengthening interethnic harmony and maintaining social stability.

D. Ergashev from the Tashkent State Economic University made a speech during the discussions. He noted that the CIS continues to function and the initiatives of the President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev have become an important moment of the "reset" of the Commonwealth.

Following the results of the round table, the participants emphasized the importance and relevance of scientific research on the development and adaptation of CIS cooperation mechanisms.