IICA delegate participates in SCO Think Tank Forum

Azamat Toshev, the Head of Department at the International Institute for Central Asia (IICA), participated in the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Think Tank Forum held in Shanghai.

His report at the event focused on “The Shanghai Cooperation Organization amid profound international transformation: meeting challenges and forging ahead”.

The forum celebrated the 25th anniversary of the SCO’s founding and was organized by Shanghai University of Political Science and Law in collaboration with the China Institute of International Studies.

Representatives from think tanks and researchers from the academic circles of SCO member states, Azerbaijan, Georgia, and Italy, as well as leaders of international organizations, including the United Nations University, attended the event. 

Azamat Toshev emphasized the development of transport and logistics links and strengthening economic integration within the SCO region. He highlighted that, as the global economy evolves, transport connectivity is crucial for sustainable growth and regional competitiveness. Uzbekistan therefore prioritizes projects such as the China – Kyrgyzstan – Uzbekistan railway and the Trans-Afghan Transport Corridor, which aim to create a unified transport network across the SCO area.

Following his speech, Azamat Toshev highlighted the significant role of SCO countries’ think tanks and stressed the urgency of transitioning quickly from broad statements to actionable solutions to eliminate infrastructure obstacles in the region.

Aziza Alimova, UzA