Eldor Aripov: Fergana Valley must become a place where peace creates opportunities for shared development

The Second Fergana Peace Forum in Khujand outlined priorities to further strengthen trust, good-neighborly relations, and practical cooperation among the countries of the Fergana Valley.

Eldor Aripov, Director of the Institute for Strategic and Regional Studies under the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan (ISRS), addressed the Second Fergana Peace Forum, entitled “The Fergana Valley: A Space of Peace, Trust and Prosperity”, taking place on 28-29 September in Khujand, Sughd Region, Tajikistan.

Established at the initiative of the President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev, the forum brings together representatives of government institutions, the expert community, academia and civil society from Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan for the second consecutive year.

While the inaugural forum in Fergana marked an important step toward creating a shared platform for dialogue, Mr. Aripov said the current meeting in Khujand aims to add a more practical dimension by turning mutual understanding into joint initiatives and projects.

In his remarks, the ISRS Director noted that the Fergana Peace Forum is gradually becoming a distinct mechanism for regional cooperation, reflecting Central Asia’s growing agency.

This means that the region’s states are increasingly able both to shape their own security and development agenda and to advance it collectively at the international level.

As an example, Mr. Aripov cited the UN General Assembly’s adoption in 2026 of three initiatives put forward by Central Asian states concerning the peaceful resolution of border disputes, stronger regional cooperation and economic integration, and the promotion of peace for future generations.

Their adoption without a vote, he said, demonstrates strong international support for regional initiatives and shows that Central Asia is increasingly advancing its own constructive agenda.

At the same time, Mr. Aripov stressed that agreements between states must turn into tangible improvements in people’s lives.

“Security is more than the absence of conflict. It means being able to study, work, trade and travel freely, maintain family ties, share resources and look to the future with confidence”, he said.

The next stage of the Fergana Process should therefore focus on establishing a lasting framework for practical cooperation centered on the interests of people living in border areas.

Against this backdrop, Mr. Aripov identified four priority areas that could give fresh impetus to the Fergana Valley’s development.

First: Transform Border Areas into Growth Centers

The ISRS Director noted that, historically, the Fergana Valley has brought people together, serving as a crossroads of trade routes, cultures and human interaction.

Today, this historical role can take on renewed economic significance through the development of cross-border infrastructure, logistics, e-commerce, tourism routes and markets in border areas.

The combined market, substantial workforce and production capacity of the three countries provide a foundation for joint ventures and collaborative projects in agricultural processing, light industry, mechanical engineering and other sectors.

Economic connectivity should thus become a practical means of strengthening trust between neighbors.

Second: Invest in People-to-People Ties

Lasting peace cannot be secured through intergovernmental agreements alone. It also requires strong, direct ties between societies.

Mr. Aripov therefore emphasized the need to expand educational and youth exchanges, strengthen cooperation between universities and research centers, implement joint cultural projects, and foster contacts among journalists, entrepreneurs and civil society representatives.

Particular attention was given to the youth dimension of the Fergana Process.

In June 2026, an initiative for young peacebuilders from Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan was launched in Fergana.

To give this work a lasting foundation, Mr. Aripov proposed establishing a “Central Asian Young Peacebuilders Club” in Fergana under the auspices of the Fergana Peace Forum.

Another practical proposal was to organize summer camps for young community leaders from border regions, using existing recreational camp facilities in the Fergana Region.

He stressed that the younger generation should play a leading role in promoting a culture of trust and good-neighborly relations across Central Asia.

Third: Manage Shared Resources and Risks Together

Mr. Aripov devoted particular attention to shared challenges that transcend national borders.

Water resources, land conditions, climate change, environmental threats and demographic pressures directly affect all three countries’ parts of the Fergana Valley.

Under these circumstances, he noted, it is essential to move from fragmented responses to joint risk management.

Proposed practical measures included joint monitoring of environmental and social risks, data sharing, introducing green technologies, and using natural resources more efficiently.

This approach would help address emerging problems more effectively and prevent them from escalating into wider social tensions.

Fourth: Unlock the Potential of Cooperation between Border Regions

According to the ISRS Director, direct cooperation between the border regions of the three countries remains an important source of further development.

Many issues that directly affect people’s daily lives are addressed at the local level, from trade and transport to agriculture, the environment, education and the use of infrastructure.

Mr. Aripov therefore called for more active direct engagement among local authorities, entrepreneurs, farmers, universities and civil society organizations.

Possible mechanisms include regular meetings between representatives of border regions, joint business forums, and partnerships between cities and municipalities.

“Economic ties strengthen the shared interest in good-neighborly relations while creating greater scope for resolving disagreements through political and diplomatic means”, he emphasized.

A separate part of Mr. Aripov’s address focused on the institutional development of the Fergana Peace Forum.

He recalled that, at the Seventh Consultative Meeting of the Heads of State of Central Asia, President Shavkat Mirziyoyev proposed transforming the Fergana Peace Forum into a regular international forum.

In the ISRS Director’s view, institutionalization should ensure continuity without turning the Fergana Process into a cumbersome bureaucratic structure.

Particular importance should therefore be attached to establishing a standing expert mechanism that can support the forum’s initiatives from concept to implementation.

To this end, he proposed forming a project group comprising representatives of strategic research institutes in Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan, as well as international organizations.

The group could provide expert support for the forum’s initiatives, develop specific projects and facilitate their implementation.

Concluding his remarks, Mr. Aripov stressed that the distinctive value of the Fergana Process lies in its ability to connect political agreements with people’s practical needs and interests.

“The Fergana Valley is a laboratory for a new regional reality, in which the security of one’s neighbors is seen as part of one’s own security, and their development as an opportunity for shared growth”, the ISRS Director said.

He noted that the success of the Fergana Peace Forum would be measured not only by the regularity of its meetings, but above all by the extent to which the ideas discussed translate into new projects, lasting ties and joint initiatives.

“Peace in the Fergana Valley must become not only a historic achievement, but also an enduring foundation for the prosperity of its peoples”, Mr. Aripov concluded.

The Second Fergana Peace Forum thus marked a transition to the next stage of regional cooperation: from building trust to establishing mechanisms for shared development.

In this context, the Fergana Valley is emerging as more than a geographical area. It is becoming one of the clearest examples of how Central Asia is shaping a new culture of good-neighborly relations, rooted in mutual responsibility, practical cooperation and a shared commitment to peace.

The Second Fergana Peace Forum is organized by the Center for Strategic Research under the President of the Republic of Tajikistan and the Executive Authority of Sughd Region, with the support of the Government of the Republic of Tajikistan.

The forum provides a platform for open dialogue among experts, institutions, and civil society on strengthening peace, trust, good-neighborly relations, and sustained cooperation among the countries and peoples of the Fergana Valley.

UzA