Javlon Vakhabov, Director of the International Institute for Central Asia (IICA), met with Mendee Jargalsaikhan, Director of the Institute for Strategic Studies under the National Security Council of Mongolia.

As noted during the discussion, this meeting continued the multifaceted dialogue between Mongolia and Uzbekistan, which has shown dynamic progress in recent years. Particular emphasis was placed on key milestones in bilateral relations, such as the opening of Mongolia’s Embassy in Tashkent and the historic first visit of the President of Mongolia to Uzbekistan last summer. 

The IICA Director highlighted that the landlocked geography of both countries necessitates the search for innovative solutions in economic cooperation, logistics, and trade. He also stressed that the alignment of interests between the two institutes offers an opportunity to launch joint projects that will serve as platforms for knowledge exchange and best practices between experts from both nations. 

At the meeting, the parties got familiar with the activities of their respective research institutions. The Mongolian Institute specializes in strategically analyzing regional and global trends, including security issues in Northeast Asia. Both sides acknowledged the similarities in their priority research areas, creating a favorable academic partnership foundation.

In turn, Mendee Jargalsaikhan noted that the Mongolian institution is one of the organizers of the Ulaanbaatar Dialogue (UBD), an annual international forum for policymakers, diplomats, and experts, held since 2014, aimed at enhancing mutual understanding and strengthening trust among Northeast Asian countries.

The discussion also covered key trade and economic initiatives, including expanding trade turnover, developing logistics infrastructure, and promoting mutual investments. Both sides explored opportunities for joint research on sustainable development best practices, focusing on environmental and climate challenges.

The Mongolian delegation emphasized the importance of economic integration and connectivity, highlighting its interest in strengthening cooperation with Central Asia, particularly Uzbekistan. Special attention was given to the Consultative Meeting of Central Asian Heads of State, with its seventh session scheduled in Uzbekistan in 2025.

Following the meeting, both parties expressed their commitment to enhancing bilateral relations through joint initiatives and projects, including conferences, roundtable discussions, and seminars. It was emphasized that such efforts would foster institutional cooperation and create new opportunities for addressing key issues on the bilateral, regional, and international agenda.

G. Khonnazarov, UzA