President of Uzbekistan puts forward new proposals to develop cooperation between Uzbekistan and Russia

On June 5, the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev took part in the plenary session of the 29th St. Petersburg International Economic Forum, which is underway in St. Petersburg.

Among the main speakers were the President of the Russian Federation Vladimir Putin, the President of the United Republic of Tanzania Samia Suluhu Hassan, and the Vice President of the People’s Republic of China Han Zheng.

At the beginning of his address, the President of Uzbekistan warmly welcomed all those present and expressed his delight at being in St. Petersburg, a city closely linked to Uzbekistan through history, deep spiritual ties, and human destinies.

The President noted that the world is undergoing a profound transformation, with transportation routes shifting, new supply chains forming, modern technological platforms emerging, and artificial intelligence being deployed across industries.

“Competition is increasingly evident not only in the struggle for markets and natural resources but also in the realm of technology, algorithms, logistics and infrastructure”, Shavkat Mirziyoyev noted.

As the President emphasized, under current conditions, the role of countries and regions in fostering cooperation, stability, and mutual benefit is becoming increasingly important.

“For millennia, Uzbekistan has been at the heart of the Great Silk Road. It was not merely goods that passed through Samarkand, Bukhara, and Tashkent. Ideas, knowledge, and cultural and religious traditions also intermingled. Therefore, for us, openness has never been a choice but a vital necessity and a civilizational code”, the President of Uzbekistan said.

Reviewing the key areas of the strategic partnership and alliance between Uzbekistan and Russia, President Shavkat Mirziyoyev highlighted significant progress in trade and economic, interregional, and industrial cooperation, as well as in energy sector cooperation.

To expand technological and industrial cooperation between Uzbekistan and Russia, he proposed establishing a Eurasian Technological Industrialization Belt, an interconnected system of industrial and technological clusters linked by a single digital platform.

Digitalization was also identified as a promising area for cooperation, creating new opportunities inemployment, logistics, payment services, and exports.

The President of Uzbekistan also proposed establishing a Joint Digital Ecosystem, which could include harmonizing regulatory frameworks for digital trade and urban services, further promoting Uzbek and Russian brands across shared platforms, creating a unified digital employment profile, and developing artificial intelligence-based products.

Given that Uzbekistan is one of the world’s youngest countries, the Leader of Uzbekistan also proposed creating a joint online platform for human capital development to link education, vocational training, and the labor market.

To strengthen the cultural and humanitarian dimensions of cooperation, the President proposed launching the “From Samarkand to St. Petersburg” creative and tourism corridor, featuring joint art and film festivals, museum exhibitions, gastronomic weeks, and music events.

The key achievements of Uzbekistan’s systemic economic reforms were also presented to the participants in the plenary session.

“A decade ago, we began building a New Uzbekistan grounded in openness, inclusivity and pragmatism. Over the years, we have laid a solid foundation for long-term growth, including a favorable business environment, a stable industrial base and new infrastructure”, the President said.

It was emphasized that one of Uzbekistan’s key advantages is its young, active, and rapidly growing population, which provides a long-term foundation for the development of entrepreneurship, technology, services, and industry.

At the same time, growth must be not only rapid, but also sustainable, inclusive, and focused on improving people’s quality of life.

The steady creation of conditions for the inflow of global investment was highlighted by the development of a favorable business climate, the strengthening of market institutions, and the growth of competition and production potential.

Forum participants were invited to take advantage of the special legal and tax regime of the Tashkent International Financial Centre and to attend the Tashkent International Investment Forum on June 16-18.

In conclusion, President Shavkat Mirziyoyev emphasized that open dialogue is now the primary prerequisite for sustainable development and that new opportunities arise where there is trust, a willingness to cooperate, and a commitment to finding solutions together.

UzA