Despite the complex geopolitical processes, conflicts and various crises taking
place in the world, Uzbekistan promotes its national interests and effectively
implements its peaceful foreign policy as a full-fledged actor of international
relations.
The amendments and additions to the updated Constitution improve amongst
others the constitutional foundations of the peaceful foreign policy of Uzbekistan.
In particular, it is determined that Uzbekistan will strive to strengthen and develop
friendly relations with the world community, primarily with neighbouring states on
the basis of cooperation, mutual support, peace and harmony.
Indeed, for the last years following the prioritization of the development of
friendly and mutually beneficial relations with the neighboring Central Asian states
as the main priority of Uzbekistan’s foreign policy and also thanks to measures and
initiatives in this priority direction, political dialogue and mutual trust have been
strengthened in the region. Consultative meetings of the Heads of Central Asian
States was established, the exchange of mutual official visits at various levels were
intensified and transport links between countries and cities were restored.
Moreover, solutions were found to such complex issues as water use, delimitation
and demarcation of state borders, border crossing, and the use of transport
communications at the regional level.
As a result of growing trade and economic relations between the Central
Asian countries, by the end of 2022 the volume of regional foreign trade turnover
of Uzbekistan has increased by 3 times compared to 2016 and amounted $7.5
billion.
Noteworthy that today the exchange of high-level official visits of Uzbekistan
with neighbouring countries becomes regular, and the number and scope of
bilateral and multilateral agreements signed in their framework are also expanding.
In particular, during the past period, Uzbekistan established a strategic partnership
with neighbouring Turkmenistan, Kyrgyzstan (2017) and Tajikistan (2018). In
December 2022 Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan signed the treaty on allied relations.
On top of that, it has been signed the multilateral “Agreement on Friendship,
Neighborliness, and Cooperation for Development of Central Asia in the 21st
Century” within the framework of the fourth Consultative meeting of the Heads of
Central Asian States on July 7, 2022 held in Cholpon-Ata, Kyrgyz Republic.
Achieving such kind of important bilateral and multilateral agreements and
treaties with neighbouring countries is the result of Uzbekistan’s peaceful,
pragmatic and active diplomacy. These also took the regional foreign policy o
Uzbekistan to a new stage, which in turn became one of the important strategic
steps in ensuring peace and stability in Central Asia.
Moreover, signing of these documents is an example of the development of
friendship and cooperation between Central Asia states, at a time when the lack of
communication and trust is increasing at the global.
The role and efforts of Uzbekistan in the process of establishing peace in
neighbouring Afghanistan are also noteworthy. In particular, at the initiative of
President Sh. Mirziyoyev, one of the priority tasks of Uzbekistan’s foreign policy
was focused on achieving peace in Afghanistan, and this country began to be
recognized as a source of opportunities rather than a threat.
In this regard, a number of infrastructural and cultural-humanitarian projects
are being implemented by Uzbekistan, which serve to establish peace in
Afghanistan and regional cooperation between Central and South Asia. In addition,
the delivery of the main international humanitarian aid to the Afghan people has
been established through the territory of Uzbekistan.
In recent years, the friendly neighbourhood and mutually beneficial
cooperation have been strengthened not only with the Central Asian countries, but
also there is rapidly developing the political-diplomatic, trade-economic, socio-
humanitarian and strategic cooperation with countries of the world, in particular
European, American, Caucasian, Southeast Asian nations, Arab countries, and the
countries in Indian and Pacific regions.
Uzbekistan’s chairmanship in three prestigious international organizations –
the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, the Organization of Turkic States, and the
Economic Cooperation Organization in 2022-2023, as well as the successful
organization of several summits in the country with the participation of the leaders
of the member states of these organizations, opened a new page in the foreign
political activity and multilateral diplomacy of Uzbekistan.
Uzbekistan’s active foreign policy, in addition to increasing the international
prestige of the country, serves to make Central Asia a stable and attractive region
with great opportunities.
Renewing constitution, as an important political document for Uzbekistan,
also creates the solid foundation for consistently conducting the mutually
beneficial, open and pragmatic foreign policy of Uzbekistan, ensuring an
environment of peace, stability and security around the country, further
strengthening friendly neighbourliness and mutually beneficial relations with
Central Asian states and other partners as well as international organizations by
actively promoting national interests of the country.
Farrukh KHAKIMOV,
"Development Strategy" Center
Head of Department