An open lecture by the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Malaysia to Uzbekistan Ilham Tuah bin Illias was held at the International Institute for Central Asia.

The discussion centered on Malaysia’s foreign policy priorities, the development of bilateral relations, and prospects for cooperation between Central Asian countries and the region’s states in the “CA+ASEAN” format.

The event was attended by leading representatives of the academic community and research centers, including the Institute for Macroeconomic and Regional Studies, as well as faculty members and students from such educational institutions as the University of World Economy and Diplomacy, the National University, the State University of World Languages, and Tashkent State University of Oriental Studies.

In his remarks, the Ambassador highlighted Uzbekistan’s achievements in implementing large-scale reforms under the leadership of President Shavkat Mirziyoyev, aimed at modernizing the economy, developing infrastructure, and strengthening human capital.

“Uzbekistan plays a key role in the consolidation of Central Asia and is becoming an increasingly visible player on the global stage”, he emphasized.

The head of the Malaysian diplomatic mission particularly highlighted the active bilateral contacts, joint projects, and promising areas of cooperation in tourism and education. It was noted that more than 600 Uzbekistan students are studying at Malaysian universities, and the number of tourist trips by Uzbekistan citizens to Malaysia exceeded 19,000 in 2024.

Special attention was given to the strategic importance of Central Asia’s cooperation with ASEAN in the areas of economic diversification, digitalization, sustainable energy development, logistics, and cultural and educational exchange. The event reaffirmed the importance of bilateral and interregional cooperation, opening new opportunities to strengthen economic, cultural, and academic ties between Uzbekistan and Malaysia, as well as between the countries of Central Asia and ASEAN.

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Gayrat Khonnazarov, UzA