Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) -- A videoconference has been held on the prospects for cooperation between Uzbekistan and Pakistan, strengthening connectivity between the regions of Central and South Asia, and the role of Afghanistan in this process.

More than 45 prominent scientists and experts from leading research institutes and think tanks of Pakistan and Uzbekistan took part in the online dialogue organized by ISRS and the Center for Global and Strategic Studies of Pakistan.

First Deputy Director of the Institute for Strategic and Regional Studies under the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan Akramjon Nematov emphasized that the dialogue of the think tanks of Uzbekistan with the leading research structures of Pakistan has acquired a traditional character. According to him, last year, despite the pandemic, the parties maintained regular contacts and held online discussions on the current issues of bilateral and interregional interaction.

During these events, specialists analyzed in detail the untapped opportunities of cooperation and worked out specific proposals for further development of relations.

Mr. Akramjon Nematov noted that in recent years, Uzbekistan and Pakistan have actively advocated the restoration of historical interregional connectivity, which gives a powerful impetus to strengthening trade, economic, scientific, technical, investment ties between Central and South Asia – two historically, culturally, civilizationally, economically and geographically close regions.

According to Mr. Nematov, the new political atmosphere of mutual trust in Central Asia, formed by the proactive and constructive diplomacy of the President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev, allows joint efforts to effectively solve the current issues of regional development and acts as a driver for the activation of trans-regional cooperation.

At the same time, this opens up new strategic opportunities for further integration of Afghanistan into regional infrastructure projects and the development of international transport corridors that are designed to unite the Central and South Asian countries.

In July this year, at the initiative of the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev, it is planned to organize an International Conference in Tashkent on “Central and South Asia: Regional Connectivity. Challenges and Opportunities” to discuss in detail the issues of interregional connectivity, as well as economic recovery and peace in Afghanistan.