I welcoming remarks

participate in festivals, exhibitions and forums conducted in two
countries. In particular, in recent years the masters of the arts of
the two countries have participated in music festivals and
numerous friendship events on the creative sites of various cities
of the two countries. And this is not a complete list of examples
of bilateral cultural and humanitarian cooperation that is growing
day by day which is the key to strengthening and expanding our
relations in the future.
At the end of my speech I would like to thank the
organizers of today’s conference and wish everyone a sound
health, every success and wellbeing!

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Speech by Director of the Kazakhstan Institute
of Ethnic Studies Burikhan Nurmuhamedov
Distinguished ladies and gentlemen! First of all, allow me
to express my appreciation and gratitude to the organizers of the
conference for the invitation to take part in such a representative
forum devoted to topical issues in Uzbekistan’s foreign policy.
It should be noted that regional cooperation, despite its
exceptional importance for the countries of the region, in my
opinion, does not find due attention from the expert and
analytical community of our countries. To be sure, there are many
reasons for this, from the continuity of old stereotypes of thinking
to unjustifiable skepticism about the future of regional
integration. And that's why the declared theme of our conference,
“Central Asia Is the Core Priority of Uzbekistan’s Foreign
Policy”, is in fact a turning point in comprehending the current
situation and understanding the future of major trends.
Without pretending that the vision of socio-economic,
political and humanitarian cooperation in the countries of the
region is not all-embracing and complete, I would like to offer a
number of concrete proposals for the advancement of regional
cooperation.
First. While conducting interstate and intergovernmental
meetings and negotiations, it is necessary to pay close attention to
maintaining a high level of the atmosphere of trust in each other.
And if there are contradictions in national approaches to the
solution of regional problems, one should not get obsessed on
this, but it is necessary to create more and more permanent
dialogue platforms on various areas of cooperation and at various
levels (central, regional, interagency, etc.). Later this approach
will create an entirely new reality which itself, in turn, will create
the prerequisites and conditions for finding common positions on
solving regional problems.

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Second. It is necessary to think about how to intensify the
annual high-level meetings. Why not make multilateral meetings
of the heads of state of the countries of the region traditional on
common holidays - New Year, Navruz, Kurban-Hayit, etc.? This
would be an important signal of the growth of the atmosphere of
confidence among the national elites, business communities and
the peoples of our countries.
Third. It is necessary to actively develop relations between
the border areas of our nations on a multilateral basis. Our major
cities and megacities are designed to become effective points of
interaction between the countries of the region. It is essential to
think about the establishment of the Association of Mayors of
Cities, to designate twin cities. To develop cities and transport
infrastructure, interstate and intergovernmental meetings and
negotiations could be conducted not only in capitals, but also in
provincial centers.
Fourth. Undoubtedly, breakthrough advancement of
cooperation between the countries of the region, in my opinion, is
impossible without the appropriate expert and analytical support.
Specialists are called to offer new approaches, non-standard
solutions and ways of development. Dialogue platform could be
created for former ambassadors of our republics in the countries
of the region who, as experts, would share their vision for future
regional cooperation. Like the Shanghai Forum (experts), it
would be possible to set up a permanent Expert Council
Turkestan, which would meet on the eve of significant
international events at the regional level and discuss issues on the
agenda for these meetings.
Fifth. It is necessary to welcome the aspiration of
Uzbekistan to give a powerful impetus to the advancement of
regional cooperation. This may be the beginning of a new stage in
the development of interstate relations and cooperation. As it was
said before, a "strategic window of opportunity" opens. At the
same time, taking into account the differences in the levels of

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socio-economic development of the countries of the region,
geographical, climatic and other features, as well as differences in
national approaches, the possibilities of a different-level and
multi-speed cooperation format should be envisaged. And,
finally, it is necessary to look forward and gradually (step by
step) and consistently enter the institutional level of cooperation
and integration.

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