Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) - Uzbekistan’s approaches to the fight against coronavirus and the negative impact of the pandemic on the national economy attract the attention of foreign public and experts.

So, the owner of the publication “Diplomatic World” Barbara Dietrich and senior researcher at the European Institute for Asian Studies Alberto Turkstra, after reviewing the results of the extraordinary summit of the heads of the Council of Turkic-Speaking States (CCTS), gave an assessment of the actions of Uzbekistan at the national and regional levels, Dunyo reported.

“In the face of an emergency public health crisis that has swept the world, Uzbekistan has taken proportionate measures to ensure that the impact of the crisis is limited, short-term and manageable,” European experts say. - At the national level, it was especially important for Uzbekistan to protect small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) from the negative consequences of this crisis, since it is they who account for a significant reduction (and in some cases a complete cessation) of economic activity in non-essential areas. Important measures have been taken to reduce the fiscal burden on entrepreneurs. For example, business entities of the tourism sector are exempted from property tax before the end of this year.

It is important to note one more institution, which in practice again confirms its effectiveness. This is a mahalla institution that, under the current conditions, helps ensure compliance with isolation measures, and provides support to needy and vulnerable groups.

At the regional level, Uzbekistan, on the one hand, is studying the best practices of countries such as Japan, which have successfully and effectively curbed the spread of coronavirus in the early stages. It is important that during this crisis, requiring so many resources from governments, states are not focused only on internal actions. Here, of course, solidarity with neighbors is necessary.

In this regard, Uzbekistan is an example to follow. President Shavkat Mirziyoyev calls on the heads of state of Central Asia to coordinate efforts.

Uzbekistan’s diplomacy and goodwill policies were demonstrated when the republic sent humanitarian aid to Afghanistan, a country whose health care system has been severely weakened by decades of conflict.

These actions should be considered in the context of the significance of the efforts undertaken by Uzbekistan to integrate Afghanistan into the processes of regional cooperation in Central Asia.

We also see that Uzbekistan rejects politicization in the context of the global health pandemic. It is life and health that are of paramount importance and are placed above other considerations.