Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) -- On 26 April, a group of leading students from the University of World Economy and Diplomacy (UWED) visited the International Institute of Central Asia (MICA), also getting acquainted with its museum and library.

Welcoming the young guests, the director of the MICA, Javlon Vakhabov, spoke in detail about the activities of the Institute, which was created in 2021 on the personal initiative of President Shavkat Mirziyoyev for the purpose of information and analytical support for the main priority of Uzbekistan’s foreign policy - establishing good neighborliness and mutual trust in the Central Asian region.

It was noted that, based on this, in a short period, MICA has become a kind of platform for expert discussion of the prospects for regional interaction, the development of specific and scientifically based proposals for multilateral projects in trade, transport and communications, energy, water, environmental, humanitarian and in the field of security.

To the delight of the future diplomats, the visit to MICA turned into a very instructive and useful exchange of experience for them. Thus, Director Javlon Vakhabov organized for them a separate meeting with leading researchers and experts from MITCA, among whom were many honored veterans of Uzbek diplomacy, who, as ambassadors, at one time headed diplomatic missions of Uzbekistan in various states of the world.

As part of an open and lively discussion with them, students learned a lot of useful information about the features of the diplomatic service, the intricacies of establishing interstate relations, as well as modern requirements and nuances for the training of future diplomats.

An important topic of interested discussion also included questions about the current state and prospects of regional cooperation within Central Asia, including mechanisms for practical interaction between states within the framework of the multilateral “Central Asia+” cooperation format.

Answering the students’ questions, the Institute’s experts, who have extensive experience in diplomatic work, gave them a kind of analytical excursion on current issues of sustainable development, regional connectivity and security in Central Asia, sharing their assessments and vision.

In general, the visit to MICA by UWED students, which became an important step in the development of dialogue between educational institutions and the expert community, greatly contributed to future diplomats comparing their theoretical knowledge with practical experience, which undoubtedly gave them clearer guidelines for preparing for their future profession.

In this regard, interest was expressed in continuing this format of meetings on a regular basis.