Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) -- A briefing was held in the conference hall of the Information and Mass Communications Agency on the participation of the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev in the next meeting of the Council of Heads of State of the Commonwealth of Independent States, held in Ashgabat on 10-11 October.

The deputy director of the Institute of Strategic and Interregional Studies under the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan Sanjar Valiev and other competent employees of the institute answered questions from journalists.

Of particular interest from the media was the fact that since next year Uzbekistan will chair the CIS.

“The revitalization of Uzbekistan within the CIS makes a positive contribution to the activities of this organization,” said Sanjar Valiev. - In preparation for its chairmanship, our country has done a great job. A whole concept was developed, which was presented at the summit in Ashgabat. The concept reflects the key priorities that we see for ourselves in this organization and offer in general to all our partners. Also, a plan for its implementation has been developed for the concept, providing for specific activities, more than 60 for the coming year. ”

Journalists were announced detailed information on this document. It was noted that the concept is comprehensive and provides for enhanced relations in all key aspects.

A large role is assigned to issues of economic development within the CIS.

“To date, there have been a number of major changes in the CIS countries, there are new promising innovative approaches in the economic sphere,” said the deputy director. - For example, there was such a thing as digitalization of the economy. And this is a new level, a new approach in economic interaction. It is planned to renew the agreement on a free trade zone. We propose to supplement the document with the creation of a free trade zone for services. ”

An important aspect will be cooperation in the cultural and humanitarian sphere.

“Our chairmanship celebrates such a significant date as the 75th anniversary of the victory in the Great Patriotic War. In this regard, a number of events will be held aimed at increasing historical literacy and preserving the historical heritage, large-scale military memorial events are organized. The youth of the CIS countries will be actively involved in this process,” Sanjar Valiev explained.

During the chairmanship of Uzbekistan, attention will be paid to security issues. “We have resumed participation in such a significant structure as the Council of Defense Ministers of the CIS and have joined the integrated air defense system. Last year, a meeting of this council was first held on the territory of Uzbekistan,” Valiyev commented.

In order to ensure security, an emphasis will be placed on the cooperation of law enforcement agencies, border structures, and other organizations designed to counter the challenges and threats facing states.

“I especially want to emphasize that at the time of our chairmanship we plan to finalize the draft concept for the further development of the CIS,” Sanjar Valiev drew the attention of media representatives. - The document has been developed for a couple of years and will be strategic in nature. It is designed for the future until 2030. This is a kind of orientation system of where we will move in the next decade. The document itself is not new. In 2008, the first such CIS development concept was adopted, which envisaged the development of cooperation until 2020. And now, Uzbekistan has a role to play in leading the finalization of the new plan. ”

Among the important areas of cooperation, the strengthening of inter-parliamentary interaction and the establishment of interregional direct contacts were also noted. So, in Uzbekistan, it is planned to hold a forum of CIS regions aimed at bringing business circles closer together.

Answering a question about the possibility of Uzbekistan joining the EAEU and the rationality of this step, Sanjar Valiev answered that the CIS and the EAEU are two platforms that do not replace and do not duplicate each other in any way. The CIS is a wider organization, within the framework of which each country chooses the format of cooperation that is most convenient for it as a separate state.

The EAEU is specifically focused on issues of trade and economic cooperation. Its goals and objectives are to achieve integration, create a single market for goods, services, finance, facilitate the movement of labor.