UN Secretary General Ban ki-moon delivered a lecture at the University for World Economy and Democracy on Monday, 5 April 2010.

“Standing before you, I feel that you have such a bright future. It is a great pleasure for me to meet with such young leaders of the future of this country. This is of course my first visit as Secretary-General but I am an old friend to you. I have been here several times in my previous capacity as Foreign Minister. I have a special attachment and respect for all that your country has built during thousands and thousands of years”, the UN chief said.

“Despite many challenges, you persevere. You dream of social and economic development. You aspire to democratic modernization that will release the potential of your hard-working, entrepreneurial people”, he said.

“You have weathered a series of global crises. I know that despite this economic crisis, you have achieved 8.5% of economic development. I told the Prime Minister yesterday, there seems to be only two countries in the world who have weathered this financial crisis: Uzbekistan and China who have achieved 8% [of economic development]. You should be proud of your leadership, your government”, Ban Ki-moon stated. During his speech, he also spoke on human rights, settlement of conflict in Afghanistan, achievement of Millennium Development Goals, as well as environment protection in context of Aral Sea.