Today, an off-site session of the Primakov Readings titled “Central Asia: Global Challenges for Regional Development” took place at the International Institute for Central Asia (IICA) in Tashkent.

The event was organized by IICA jointly with the Primakov National Research Institute of World Economy and International Relations of the Russian Academy of Sciences.

The session focused on key issues related to the effective response of Central Asian states to global changes, as well as opportunities to strengthen regional resilience and expand economic connectivity.

In his welcoming remarks, Advisor to the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan Abdulaziz Kamilov noted that the forum’s theme reflects the region’s growing role amid the transformation of the global order. He emphasized the need for strategic coordination among Central Asian countries to ensure stability, sustainable development, and prosperity. According to him, the initiatives put forward by the leaders of Central Asian states at the 7th Consultative Meeting in Tashkent are aimed at deepening cooperation. Close joint efforts have already become a factor in shaping a shared regional identity and strengthening the region’s international standing.

The Advisor to the President emphasized that the expansion of “Central Asia Plus” cooperation formats, including the format with the Russian Federation, reflects the growing interest of global actors in the region. The second “Central Asia – Russia” summit, held in October of this year, confirmed the parties’ readiness for practical cooperation in industrial partnership, infrastructure, energy, and security.

The session was attended by representatives of leading research centers from India, China, Serbia, the United States, Türkiye, Russia, and the Central Asian countries, as well as diplomats, scholars, professors, and young researchers.

Stanislav Pritchin, Head of the Central Asia Sector at the Institute of World Economy and International Relations of the Russian Academy of Sciences, noted that the Primakov Readings are one of the institute’s key events. According to relevant agencies, the forum ranks among the ten most significant international events, underscoring its high status. For the first time, an off-site session in Central Asia is being held specifically in Uzbekistan, which, as the expert noted, is a particular honor for the organizers.

According to Samandar Ismailov, Senior Research Fellow at IICA, Central Asia today is one of the key regions of engagement for many external actors. It is in this context, and to help the region adapt to global changes, that the off-site session of the Primakov Readings is taking place in Uzbekistan.

The expert recalled a recent article by the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan, Shavkat Mirziyoyev, in which it was emphasized that the Central Asian region has been and remains the main priority of Uzbekistan’s foreign policy. Our country intends to continue active engagement both with its neighbors and external partners in the “Central Asia Plus” format, acting as a unified regional entity and developing mutually beneficial solutions for all countries of the region.

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Aziza Alimova, photos by Asliddin Alijonov, UzA