Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.uz) — Uzbekistan will assume the chairmanship of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) next year, and the next meeting of the CIS Council of Heads of State is planned to take place in Bukhara. Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev announced this on 9 October while speaking at a meeting of the council in Awaza, Turkmenistan, according to the press service of the President of Uzbekistan.
“We are committed to working closely together to further strengthen the Commonwealth and achieve tangible results that our citizens will feel,” Mirziyoyev said.
The summit in Awaza coincided with the 35th anniversary of the CIS. Mirziyoyev noted that much had changed over the years, both in member states and around the world, but close personal ties, a shared history and significant potential for cooperation remained unchanged. He said this potential should now be used in the interests of the region’s peoples.
The president praised Ashgabat’s CIS chairmanship, describing it as active and productive, and thanked Turkmen President Serdar Berdimuhamedov for organising the summit.
Mirziyoyev said the world was undergoing profound changes, with tensions rising and established economic ties being reconfigured. Under these circumstances, he stressed the importance of strengthening trust, coordinating positions more frequently and ensuring that agreements produced tangible results.
In his address, the president outlined several priorities for cooperation. These included ensuring the full operation of the free trade area without restrictions, strengthening food security, linking special economic zones and industrial parks into a unified network, improving transport and energy connectivity, addressing climate change and developing creative industries.
Mirziyoyev also highlighted cybercrime. He proposed tasking the CIS Council of Ministers of Internal Affairs with developing, as soon as possible, measures to establish a Joint Contact Centre to respond to cross-border cybercrime and fraud schemes.
The president also announced that the ancient city of Khiva was preparing to host the CIS Youth Forum.
According to Mirziyoyev, the forum will provide a platform for young people to fully realise their creative and intellectual potential.
