Between 2023 and 2025, Uzbekistan emerged as both an initiator and a venue for historic agreements and summits that reshaped the political landscape of Central Asia.
From the signing of the Khujand Declaration on Eternal Friendship among neighboring states to the first European Union – Central Asia Summit in Samarkand and the landmark 150th Assembly of the Inter-Parliamentary Union in Tashkent, these events vividly underscored the country’s growing role as a constructive mediator between East and West.
The international community increasingly recognizes Uzbekistan’s efforts to promote good-neighborly relations, regional stability, and global dialogue. Below, we examine the key achievements of Uzbek diplomacy in recent years, supported by direct quotes from leaders and experts and data from authoritative sources.
A Historic Breakthrough in Central Asia: The Khujand Declaration and Good Neighborliness
One of the turning points occurred on March 31, 2025, with the signing of an agreement in the city of Khujand marking the junction point of the borders of Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, and Kyrgyzstan. For the first time in decades, the presidents of the three countries – Shavkat Mirziyoyev, Emomali Rahmon, and Sadyr Japarov – fully resolved their border issues, reinforcing the agreement with a Declaration of Eternal Friendship. This event has been hailed as a historic achievement: not long ago, relations between some Central Asian republics were frozen, and their borders were closed. A monument on a territory that once caused disputes has been solemnly erected as a new symbol of strengthened good neighborliness, trust, and strategic partnership among brotherly nations. The international community warmly welcomed this regional breakthrough. For instance, Saudi Arabia officially described the border agreement and the Khujand Declaration as “a positive step toward regional cooperation and stability”. Russia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs emphasized that the agreements reached will provide new impetus for developing partnership-based interaction among the three states and contribute to ensuring security throughout Central Asia. These assessments reflect the general sentiment: longstanding disputes that previously led to border incidents have given way to a spirit of cooperation. Observers note that the political will and readiness for mutual compromise laid the foundation for a success that not long ago seemed unattainable.
It is essential to highlight Uzbekistan’s key role in this progress. Following the election of President Shavkat Mirziyoyev in 2016, the country adopted a policy of good neighborliness, prioritizing establishing trust-based relations with all neighbors. In recent years, Tashkent has initiated renewed dialogue between Bishkek and Dushanbe, offering its platform and expert support. As early as 2018, at Uzbekistan’s initiative, Central Asian leaders resumed regular consultative meetings to address shared challenges. This atmosphere of regional solidarity created the necessary conditions for Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan to resolve their main border disagreements by 2025 and, together with Uzbekistan, formalize the tri-border junction on the map of Central Asia. As a result, the region achieved what had not been possible since the dissolution of the Soviet Union: the comprehensive delimitation of borders and a multilateral treaty of friendship that eliminates the grounds for future conflict.
The Samarkand EU – Central Asia Summit: A Bridge Between Regions
Another confirmation of Uzbekistan’s new diplomatic status was the first-ever European Union – Central Asia Summit, held on April 3-4, 2025, in the historic city of Samarkand under the chairmanship of President Shavkat Mirziyoyev. The hosting of this meeting on Uzbek soil became possible thanks to the significant rapprochement among the region’s countries in recent years. “Not long ago, relations between some Central Asian states were simply frozen… No one could have imagined that, soon, we would stand together before European leaders as a united voice of our region”, President Mirziyoyev proudly stated at the summit. These words reflect the tremendous journey Central Asia has made – from mutual isolation to the historic unity demonstrated in Samarkand.
The summit was attended by the leaders of all five Central Asian countries and top officials from leading EU institutions, including the President of the European Council, António Costa, and the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen. The outcome of the meeting was the announcement of a strategic partnership between the EU and Central Asia, formalized in a joint declaration. A senior EU official said this was a landmark summit at which the Central Asian countries demonstrated a clear ambition to deepen relations with the EU and diversify their foreign policy.
The European Union affirmed the seriousness of its intentions with an impressive economic support package: Ursula von der Leyen announced a €12 billion investment program to develop transport connectivity, green energy, and digital infrastructure in the region. As the President of the European Commission emphasized, the summit was intended to deepen trade ties and expand cooperation in transport, critical raw materials, digital connectivity, and water and energy projects.
Progress within Uzbekistan itself was also explicitly acknowledged. European leaders praised the reforms carried out under Shavkat Mirziyoyev’s leadership and his contribution to fostering a climate of trust in the region. “The countries of the region are strengthening trust and good neighborliness while launching large-scale cooperation”, the President noted, adding that Central Asia is now ready for a new future in which the European Union will be a close partner. In response, António Costa stated that “the European Union seeks to build a mutually beneficial partnership with Central Asia that goes beyond expectations”.
The summit’s constructive tone confirmed that Tashkent has transformed Asia’s geographic heart into a center for dialogue between East and West. In addition to economic issues, the summit addressed security and international policy matters. It is symbolic that Samarkand, a city located on the legendary Silk Road, which for centuries connected civilizations, served as the venue for these discussions. Today, Samarkand is once again at the forefront of global diplomacy as the place where Europe and Asia have extended a hand of cooperation to one another.
Analysts note that the European Union’s intensified engagement with Central Asia has primarily responded to the shifting geopolitical landscape after 2022. In this context, Uzbekistan has played a key moderating role. By hosting the summit, the country underscored its neutrality and readiness to create conditions for open dialogue on even the most complex issues – from trade and investment to climate change and the situation in Afghanistan.
Tashkent 2025: Parliamentary Diplomacy on a Global Scale
Uzbekistan’s role as a new diplomatic hub has been evident in intergovernmental negotiations and interparliamentary cooperation. Just recently, Tashkent became the first city in Central Asia to host the landmark 150th Assembly of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) – the world’s oldest and largest organization of parliamentarians, comprising 179 national parliaments. The forum brought together over 2,000 delegates from nearly 140 countries, including speakers of parliaments, UN representatives, and officials from other international organizations.
The choice of Uzbekistan’s capital as the venue for such a high-profile event was no coincidence. “Holding the Assembly in the region for the first time confirms the international community’s recognition of the democratic reforms being implemented in the country under the leadership of President Shavkat Mirziyoyev”, the IPU organizing committee stated in an official announcement.
Indeed, in recent years, Uzbekistan’s parliament has significantly increased its activity on the international stage, which played a decisive role in the successful bid to host the anniversary session. According to the Senate’s press service, President Shavkat Mirziyoyev personally proposed the initiative, and the agreement to hold the Assembly was signed in Geneva with the participation of IPU Secretary General Martin Chungong and Senate Chairperson Tanzila Narbayeva.
Opening the forum in Tashkent, the Uzbek side set the tone for the discussions by proposing the theme: “The Parliamentary Movement for Social Progress and Justice”. In his keynote address, the President emphasized the growing importance of parliamentary diplomacy in the face of global challenges. He noted that the world is currently experiencing escalating armed conflicts, environmental disasters, and economic confrontations – and under such conditions, parliaments must play an increasingly prominent role in ensuring stability and development.
“Uzbekistan consistently advocates for resolving all conflicts exclusively through political and diplomatic means and peaceful negotiations”, stated Shavkat Mirziyoyev, calling on the international community to intensify dialogue to resolve crises. The President emphasized the inadmissibility of isolating Afghanistan, describing the country as an integral part of Central Asia and a potential source of new opportunities – provided that constructive engagement is pursued. These remarks, delivered at a parliamentary forum, were addressed to a broad audience of international policymakers and diplomats, further reinforcing Uzbekistan’s image as a responsible peacemaker on the global stage”.
Delegates praised the high level of organization of the Tashkent Assembly and the depth of the topics addressed. In his welcome message, UN Secretary-General António Guterres highlighted the historical significance of the 150th IPU Assembly and emphasized: “When parliaments are strong, representative, and accountable, societies are more resilient, and democracy delivers”.
Former IPU President Duarte Pacheco (speaking at the forum’s opening) and other leaders of interparliamentary delegations also thanked Uzbekistan for its hospitality and contribution to developing constructive political dialogue in the region. For several days, Tashkent became the capital of global democracy, offering parliamentarians worldwide a unique opportunity to align their views on pressing issues – from poverty reduction and gender equality to sustainable development and human rights.
It is important to note that hosting a forum of such scale in Central Asia would have been unthinkable without significant internal changes in Uzbekistan. In recent years, the country has undertaken wide-ranging domestic reforms: strengthening parliamentary oversight, expanding the legislature’s powers, and increasing the transparency of the legislative process. These measures have contributed to the emergence of the “New Uzbekistan” – a more open and democratic state, ready not only to learn from the international community but also to offer its initiatives.
President Shavkat Mirziyoyev’s words were particularly symbolic when he stated that the parliament must become “a true school of democracy, the initiator and driving force of reforms”. In this way, the success of the 150th IPU Assembly in Tashkent serves both as a recognition of Uzbekistan’s achievements on the international stage and as an incentive to continue the reform agenda in the country.
A Mediating Mission on the Global Stage
Uzbekistan’s emergence as a new center of global diplomacy is evident not only through major international events, but also through a series of initiatives in recent years in which Tashkent has acted as a mediator, moderator, and generator of ideas. Under the auspices of the United Nations, Uzbekistan has advanced important resolutions and projects. Notably, at the initiative of President Shavkat Mirziyoyev, the UN General Assembly unanimously adopted a resolution declaring the Aral Sea region a zone of environmental innovation and technology – a step aimed at mobilizing global resources to address the ecological disaster of the Aral Sea’s desiccation. Uzbekistan also initiated the creation of a Multi-Partner Human Security Trust Fund for the Aral Sea region under UN auspices, which has become a practical tool for assisting millions of people affected by the environmental crisis. Within the framework of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), Tashkent has actively promoted ideas of education and tolerance. In 2018, the Uzbekistan delegation proposed a youth education program centered on tolerance, which was supported by all OIC member states. In 2021, the country hosted the International Forum on Youth Rights (in cooperation with UNESCO), and in 2022, it welcomed a conference of foreign ministers from Islamic countries focused on science and technology.
Uzbek diplomacy places particular emphasis on supporting peacebuilding efforts in Afghanistan. Instability in this neighboring country directly affects regional security, and Uzbekistan has become a key mediator in dialogue with Kabul. In July 2022, Tashkent hosted a major International Conference on Afghanistan, bringing together delegations from 30 countries and international organizations, including representatives of Afghanistan’s then-new authorities. At the conference, the Uzbek side called for developing a roadmap for Afghanistan’s integration into regional cooperation and for the unblocking of humanitarian aid. “Afghanistan is our neighbor, and we believe it is essential to engage in constructive dialogue with the current authorities and to view the country as an integral part of Central Asia”, stated Shavkat Mirziyoyev in his address to the global parliamentary community. This message was positively received both in the Muslim world and at the United Nations. UN Secretary-General António Guterres personally thanked Uzbekistan for its leadership in assisting the Afghan people and promoting infrastructure projects aimed at integrating Afghanistan into the region, such as the construction of the Termez – Mazar-i-Sharif – Peshawar railway corridor.
Within the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO), Uzbekistan has also made a significant contribution. During its presidency of the SCO in 2021-2022, Tashkent initiated a series of proposals that formed the basis of the so-called “Samarkand Solidarity” initiative, which aimed to strengthen mutual trust across Eurasia. At the SCO Summit held in Samarkand in September 2022, which brought together the leaders of China, Russia, India, Pakistan, and other countries, the Uzbek side proposed a new agenda focused on deepening transport connectivity, jointly combating terrorism, and addressing climate change. This led to adoption the Samarkand Declaration of the SCO, which incorporated Uzbekistan’s concept of “shared, indivisible security and development”. In addition, Tashkent spearheaded the creation of two new institutions within the SCO framework: the Institute for Food Security Issues and the Regional Center for the Development of Transport and Logistics Potential, both designed to address urgent challenges facing the entire Eurasian region.
Similar engagement is also observed within the Conference on Interaction and Confidence-Building Measures in Asia (CICA), a forum uniting around 30 Asian states.
Uzbekistan consistently supports CICA’s transformation into a fully fledged security organization, actively participates in CICA’s work on the Afghan direction, and regularly proposes ways to strengthen trust among Asian countries. At the organization’s summit in Astana in October 2022, the Uzbekistan delegation presented initiatives to develop green trade corridors and joint measures for post-pandemic economic recovery, which were approved by the participating states.
Finally, Uzbekistan’s role in the “Central Asia +” formats (such as C5+1 with the United States, C5+Japan, C5+Republic of Korea, C5+India, etc.) deserves particular mention. President Shavkat Mirziyoyev has personally participated in several such events, including the virtual “Central Asia – India” summit in January 2022, where he supported the creation of a regional transit and transport hub with India’s assistance. Uzbekistan co-authored establishing a regular dialogue between Central Asia and major global power centers, such as the European Union, the United States, Türkiye, and Japan, thus contributing to the region’s integration into the international economic and political system. The outcomes of the first Samarkand Summit with the EU in 2025 demonstrated that this strategy is bearing fruit: Central Asia has stepped out of the shadows and positioned itself as a unified strategic partner for the European Union.
In a short historical span, Uzbekistan has made an impressive transition from relative isolation to recognition as a new center of diplomacy in Eurasia. “Our country is becoming one of the centers of global politics and an author of international initiatives”, Uzbek analysts observe. The high regard expressed by partners – from Moscow and Riyadh to Brussels and New York – demonstrates that Uzbekistan’s efforts produce tangible results in strengthening stability and cooperation.
Of course, addressing ongoing challenges will require further reform, a balanced approach to the interests of major regional powers, and solutions to humanitarian issues. Yet it is already clear: Uzbekistan has taken on a constructive and respected role in global diplomacy, proving that even a relatively small nation, guided by goodwill and mutual respect, can have a meaningful and positive impact on the course of international affairs. It is no coincidence that Samarkand and Tashkent are increasingly mentioned in the news as places where a new chapter in the dialogue between nations is being written – a chapter the world views with hope and optimism.
Abduaziz Khidirov, UzA