On May 26, the first videoconference was held between the Institute for Strategic and Regional Studies under the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan and King Faisal Center for Research and Islamic Studies on “New Uzbekistan – A New Foreign Policy”.

The event was attended by experts from the Center for Islamic Studies, representatives of the diplomatic corps accredited in Riyadh, scientific and business circles of Saudi Arabia.

ISRS, IICA, UWED experts presented their reports on various issues of relations between Central Asia and the Middle East, as well as the prospects for Uzbekistan’s cooperation with Saudi Arabia and other Arab countries, who brought to the participants the main provisions and priorities of Uzbekistan's foreign policy in Central Asia, Afghanistan, in the Middle East direction.

Promising areas for further expansion of cooperation between Uzbekistan and Saudi Arabia, ongoing reforms and transformations in the two countries, as well as a range of practical issues of cooperation in trade, investment and security were considered at the meeting.

ISRS Deputy Director S. Valiyev noted that Saudi Arabia is the largest Arab economy with a huge resource, investment and trade-economic potential, while Uzbekistan is an example of a fast-growing market, where the investment and business climate is rapidly improving. He also emphasized that the videoconference between Uzbekistan and Saudi Arabia experts is a relevant and demanded event and serves to search for additional ways to enhance cooperation. Bringing Uzbekistan – Saudi Arabia relations to a qualitatively new level can initiate a new stage of cooperation between the regions of Central Asia and the Middle East.

The Head of the Asian Studies Unit at the King Faisal Center for Research and Islamic Studies Mohammed Turki Al-Sudairi said that in light of the approaching of the 30th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries, the Saudi side pays significant attention to enhancing and improving the quality of the Kingdom’s ties with Uzbekistan.

Measures are being taken to establish cooperation between the think tanks of the two countries. The King Faisal Center for Research and Islamic Studies cooperates with several of Uzbekistan’s scientific centers, including the Center for Islamic Civilization in Tashkent. 

Mr. Mohammed Turki Al-Sudairi noted that the peoples of the two countries are linked by deep historical and spiritual roots, and the Islamic civilization brings them closer. KSA has the holy cities of Mecca and Medina, and Uzbekistan – Bukhara, Samarkand, Margilan, Kokand, Termez, where the outstanding Islamic scholars Beruni, al Bukhari, Maturidi, Farabi, Ibn Sina were born.

UzA