The 150th Assembly of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) is currently underway in the capital of Uzbekistan.

UzA correspondent spoke with Martin Chungong, the IPU Secretary General:

“Today, we have gathered for the 150th Assembly of the Inter-Parliamentary Union, being held for the first time in this region – in Uzbekistan.

In this regard, I would like to express my deep appreciation to the Leader of the country, President Shavkat Mirziyoyev, as well as to the Chairperson of the Senate, Tanzila Narbayeva. Under their leadership, all the necessary conditions have been created to hold this vital assembly at a high level.

Uzbekistan is hosting the event at a particularly significant moment, as the country is actively working to promote gender equality. I am pleased to see that the Chairperson of the Senate is taking the initiative and playing an active role in this process.

I would also like to take this opportunity to congratulate the country’s leadership on its achievements in increasing youth participation in political life. When I first visited Uzbekistan, youth engagement was minimal. However, today, we see significant progress. In this regard, the measures being taken by the President of Uzbekistan to improve political processes, particularly in advancing inclusivity, deserve special recognition.

Nearly 2,000 guests have arrived in Tashkent, transforming the city into a hub of parliamentary diplomacy. This assembly will demonstrate that the problems, conflicts, and disputes facing the global community can be resolved through dialogue. At a time when wars and conflicts are raging, the hosting of this assembly in Uzbekistan reflects the country’s firm commitment to the development of multilateral cooperation and parliamentary diplomacy. The Inter-Parliamentary Union is deeply grateful for this.

We hope to adopt the Tashkent Declaration, which will serve as a roadmap for the IPU and a foundation for future work aimed at ensuring social progress and justice.

We place great hopes in this assembly. I am confident that we made the right decision in accepting Uzbekistan’s invitation to host such an important event here.

Norgul Abduraimova, UzA