Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) — In the Turkmen city of Avaza, during the Third UN Conference on Landlocked Developing Countries (LLDC3), Uzbekistan’s Minister of Justice Akbar Tashkulov held a number of important meetings and delivered a keynote address.

In his speech at the forum, Akbar Tashkulov emphasized the special role of civil society in socio‑economic reforms, noting its importance for deepening regional integration, enhancing climate resilience, and addressing systemic challenges.

“Civil society is not just a partner. It is a bridge between the state and the people, the voice of those who are the first to face difficulties. It is precisely civil initiatives that raise concerns about systemic issues, promote innovation, and help the state respond more effectively to the needs of its citizens. In Uzbekistan, all the necessary conditions for their implementation have been created,” the minister stated.

On the sidelines of the conference, he met with Turkmenistan’s Minister of Justice Merettagan Taganov. The parties noted the successful completion of the cooperation program adopted in 2022 and agreed to develop a new joint project that will include the digitalization of the justice system, the introduction of artificial intelligence technologies, the development of advocacy and mediation, as well as exchanges of experience in the training of legal professionals.

They also discussed prospects for expanding multilateral cooperation with justice institutions in other Central Asian countries and beyond.