Uzbekistan's Giant Regional Leap Forward.

Byline: Muhammad Asif Noor

As a key regional leader, Uzbekistan initiated and hosted one of the first and unique international conferences on Regional Connectivity of Central Asia and South Asia held from 15-16 July in Tashkent. As a visionary foreign and regional policy by President Shavkat Mirziyoyev, the Conference was a giant leap forward and is meant to bring together regional efforts in developing lasting cooperation options to bring peace and development in the region. The conference was one of the largest gatherings so far from both regions and global participation to promote economic integration. Home to nearly one billion people in Central Asia and South Asia facing diverse levels of challenges including increasing poverty and health crisis, the conference aimed at finding solutions to the challenge of building lasting CA and SA connectivity.

The agenda of the International conference included but not limited to exchange views and make proposals to increase cooperation in trade, innovation, investment, energy, education, climate, transportation, tourism, culture, peace and stability in the region. With energetic and active foreign outreach by President Shavkat Mirziyoyev, this was Uzbekistan's giant leap forward to build a regional cooperation environment to create opportunities for development and peace. The conference was overshadowed by the Afghanistan situation especially the recent upsurge in the violence in the country after the withdrawal. The Conference had high level regional participation from leaders including the President of Uzbekistan, Prime Minister of Pakistan, President of Afghanistan, Secretary General of the UN Antonio Guterres, Foreign Ministers India, China, Russia, Central Asian Republics, High Dignitaries from US, EU, other business leaders and entrepreneurs. There were nearly 250 participants from over 40 countries and INGOs.

Conference was divided into plenary and three breakout sessions including regional connectivity, trade and transport, prospects for modernization, transportation and finally regional security was the focus of the sessions. The conference brought forward the much required confidence and mutual understanding in resolving all the challenges that are creating hindrance for bringing the two regions closer together. There was a long desire from South Asian countries to reach out to Central Asia, while Central Asian states have aspired to build their connectivity through Pakistan's Gwadar...