Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) -- It Is important to work together to develop a common vision for regional security. This statement was made by Akramjon Nematov, First Deputy Director of the Institute for Strategic and Interregional Studies under the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan, speaking at the first meeting of the Uzbekistan-Kazakhstan Expert Council held on 2 August in Astana.

The event, organized by ISMI in collaboration with the Kazakhstan Institute for Strategic Studies under the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan, was attended by leaders and representatives of ministries and agencies, as well as experts and analysts from both countries.

According to Nematov, the world is currently experiencing a profound and complex crisis. The international relations system has entered a period of prolonged uncertainty.

We are witnessing a growing deficit of trust and multilateral dialogue, a decrease in the effectiveness of international institutions, and the re-emergence of the world into political-economic blocs. These processes are accompanied by the fragmentation of the global economy and market volatility.

As a result, global supply chains have become less stable, protectionist measures are intensifying, inflation remains high, and countries’ resources to address global challenges are being depleted.

The expert believes that the combination of these factors is leading to increased socio-political tensions and, consequently, the rise of both traditional and non-traditional threats.

At the same time, according to Nematov, the coming years will be characterized by the unpredictability of the external environment and its rapid change. Already today, against the backdrop of global and regional crises, trade tensions, and tighter financing conditions, we are seeing capital outflows from developing countries.

Moreover, the increasing frequency of conflicts and humanitarian crises, coupled with the declining effectiveness of international humanitarian cooperation, exacerbates the problem of access to international technical assistance.

All this, in turn, will hinder our efforts to ensure the region’s sustainable development and complicate the resolution of such critical issues as energy, food, and water security, which are becoming even more acute.

In Nematov’s view, under these challenging conditions, Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan face a very responsible task—to demonstrate in practice the spirit of allied relations, to be prepared to jointly address regional issues, and to take responsibility for the prosperity and sustainable development of the region.

For this reason, regional cooperation, according to Nematov, remains the only viable option for mitigating the most serious security risks and ensuring the sustainable development of our countries.

"We need to jointly form a substantial interconnected market in the region, a barrier-free space for free trade and industrial-technological cooperation, and integrate it into global value chains, transform our region into a vital link in interregional connectivity, and enhance its competitiveness," the expert emphasized.

He noted that the imperative of regional policy should remain the openness of Central Asia to the world and its constructive interaction with external actors.

In this context, an active policy of participating in integration associations in Eurasia, combined with a policy of openness and maintaining balanced relations with all external actors, will help turn the region into an important trans-regional transport, logistics, and industrial-technological hub of the global economy.

Additionally, Nematov emphasized the importance of transitioning to the digitalization of all sectors of the economy and promoting the creation of a unified e-commerce platform based on the adoption of a regional program.

The expert expressed confidence that the development of digital infrastructure would increase the transparency of procedures, the effectiveness of governance institutions, reduce corruption, and overall contribute to creating a more favorable investment climate.

Furthermore, Nematov stressed the need for Central Asian countries to develop consolidated approaches to ensuring food and water security. According to him, "this requires the adoption of a Regional Food Security Strategy and a Strategy for the Rational Use of Water Resources of Transboundary Watercourses."

"In turn, to address transportation and logistics issues, it is proposed to adopt a Strategy for Regional Transport Corridors in Central Asia, implement a Regional Program for the Sustainable Development of the Central Asian Transport System, and establish a Regional Council on Transport Communications of Central Asian Countries to coordinate efforts in developing the transport and logistics sector in the region," the analyst noted.

Particular attention was given to the need for close coordination of efforts on security issues, which, in the context of the global economic crisis and intense confrontation among various power centers, are becoming even more relevant.

In light of this, Nematov emphasized the importance of working together to develop a common vision for regional security, taking into account the inseparable link between security and sustainable development, and determining the central role and responsibility of our countries in ensuring comprehensive and indivisible security in Central Asia.

According to the expert, there is currently a reevaluation of the role and place of Central Asia in the system of international relations and global economic ties. The vast human, resource-raw material, and industrial potential of Central Asia is already attracting the attention of the international community, with the region’s international subjectivity and role on the world stage growing.

"Under these conditions, maintaining and developing a strategic dialogue based on the principles of alliance is a necessity of the times. I am confident that the implementation of the aforementioned measures, along with the coordination of our actions, will allow us to fully utilize the internal reserves of the region and significantly increase the resilience of Central Asia," concluded the ISMI representative.