A meeting was held between Javlon Vakhabov, Director of the International Institute for Central Asia (IICA), and Abdulaziz Sager, Chairman of the Gulf Research Center, to establish contacts and discuss prospects for cooperation.

IICA Director emphasized the importance of developing partnerships with leading think tanks in the Gulf countries to deepen mutual understanding between the regions and facilitate the exchange of expert knowledge.

In turn, Dr. Abdulaziz Sager expressed the Center’s interest in expanding partnerships with research institutions in Central Asia. In his view, such dialogue will contribute to a deeper analysis of regional processes and the development of joint policy recommendations.

The parties discussed key issues related to cooperation between Central Asian countries and the member states of the Gulf Cooperation Council. Special attention was given to the initiatives put forward by the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan, Shavkat Mirziyoyev, during the first “Central Asia – GCC” summit held in Jeddah on July 19, 2023.

In particular, the discussion focused on the development of a multilateral Friendship, Regional Connectivity and Cooperation Agreement, the establishment of an Investors Council with participation from business representatives of both regions and the joint implementation of projects in green energy.

The parties expressed interest in undertaking joint projects and organizing conferences, roundtables, and seminars aimed at fostering deeper engagement between expert communities. It was noted that such events would contribute to the exchange of experiences and best practices, as well as to the development of new forms of cooperation ahead of the upcoming “Central Asia – GCC” summit in Samarkand.

G. Khonnazarov, UzA