The 8th Central Asian Expert Forum (CAEF) “Central Asia – A Common Space of Trust, Security and Sustainable Development” continues its work in Tashkent.

The second day of the forum, organized by the Institute for Strategic and Regional Studies (ISRS) under the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan, began with a scientific and practical conference on “Practical aspects of forming regional identity in Central Asia”.

Opening the international expert dialogue, the ISRS First Deputy Director Akramjon Nematov stressed that in today’s world, where ideological confrontation has intensified in recent years, particularly through the clash of different civilizations, cultures, and religions, strengthening cultural and civilizational unity is an essential tool for protection against destructive external influence.

Then, welcoming remarks were delivered by Kanatbek Aziz, Director of the Research Institute of Geopolitics and Strategy of Kyrgyzstan, Erkin Baydarov, Researcher at the R.B. Suleimenov Institute of Oriental Studies (Kazakhstan), prominent expert from Tajikistan Sherali Rizoyon, and Bekdurdy Amansariyev, staff member of the Center for Strategic Studies of the Institute of International Relations of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Turkmenistan.

The participants noted that this dialogue would contribute to further strengthening the sense of regional unity in Central Asia.

Gayrat Khonnazarov, photos by Asliddin Alijonov, UzA