Distinguished Co-Chairs of the Nizami Ganjavi International Center
Ladies and Gentlemen,
It gives me great pleasure to warmly welcome you to the ancient and beautiful land of Uzbekistan.
I would like to express my deep gratitude to the Nizami Ganjavi International Center for the initiative to gather here in Tashkent such a distinguished assembly of participants – prominent politicians and statesmen, leaders of international organizations, who are making a significant contribution to the development of their countries, the strengthening of international cooperation, and the promotion of mutual trust.
It should be particularly underlined that the important role of the Center in preserving and widely popularizing the unique intellectual and creative legacy of the great Azerbaijani thinker Nizami Ganjavi – the “Sultan of Poets,” as he was described by the eminent Uzbek poet Alisher Navoi.
I would like to emphasize that Nizami Ganjavi’s profound and timeless philosophy – his ideas of harmony between man and the surrounding world and of justice – assume even greater importance in today’s difficult conditions.
The active engagement of the Nizami Ganjavi Center in addressing pressing issues of the international agenda also deserves special recognition.
The annual Global Baku Forum, held under its auspices, has become one of the world’s most respected dialogue platforms, where new ideas are advanced to resolve the most urgent challenges of international and regional development.
I consider it particularly important that the central theme of today’s forum is devoted to the interconnectedness of Central Asia and the South Caucasus and the prospects for partnership between these two major regions and Europe.
We regard this as a unique opportunity to introduce Central Asia more broadly to the world – a region where consolidation and cooperation are gaining momentum – to exchange views on strengthening interregional connectivity and on fully realizing the potential of Uzbekistan and Azerbaijan.
In recent years, Uzbek-Azerbaijani relations have been developing dynamically in a spirit of mutual trust and support. A Treaty on Allied Relations has been signed, and the Supreme Interstate Council is actively functioning.
I would like to particularly highlight that Azerbaijan serves as a strategic bridge linking Central Asia and Europe.
Today our relations with Europe, which is represented at this forum by a large number of participants, are entering an entirely new stage of development.
Recently, for the first time, we hosted in our country the “Central Asia–European Union” Summit.
A historic decision was adopted to establish a strategic partnership between our region and the countries of the European Union. In the coming months, we intend to sign an Agreement on Enhanced Partnership and Cooperation with the European Union.
Together with the European Union and other partners, we will continue to work purposefully on developing efficient transport, logistics, and energy corridors. I am convinced that these efforts will revive the role of our region as a hub between West and East.
We deeply value the readiness of the President of Azerbaijan, His Excellency Ilham Heydarovich Aliyev, to contribute to the development of a new regional processes and his tireless efforts to strengthen the interaction between the South Caucasus and Central Asia.
Availing this opportunity, we once again sincerely congratulate the friendly people of Azerbaijan on their great historic achievement – the recent signing in Washington, with the mediation of the United States, of the Trilateral Joint Declaration with Armenia.
Distinguished participants,
Today Uzbekistan is resolutely advancing its dynamic reforms, and along this path we have already achieved tremendous results. The principle that “Uzbekistan is a country open to the world and discovering the world for itself” has taken firm root in our national life.
We are consistently strengthening long-term relations with foreign partners and international organizations, broadening the scope of cooperation, and remaining open to the most advanced ideas. We will steadfastly pursue the policy of building a New Uzbekistan – a law-governed, secular, democratic, and socially oriented state.
In these extraordinarily difficult times, Uzbekistan and the Central Asian region offer the international community an invaluable resource – stability, trust, and development.
Today, under these new conditions, broad horizons for cooperation are opening before us, creating new opportunities for joint work in areas of mutual interest and benefit. We therefore look forward to your support and continued collaboration.
I sincerely wish all participants of today’s meeting fruitful discussions and every success in the work of the forum.
Shavkat Mirziyoyev
President of the Republic of Uzbekistan