The CIS: Uzbekistan’s intense participation in recent years

Shavkat Mirziyoyev, the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan, participated in an informal meeting of heads of states of the Commonwealth of Independent States in St. Petersburg on December 28 at the initiative of Russian President Vladimir Putin.

The summit was attended by President of Belarus - Alexander Lukashenko, President of Azerbaijan -Ilham Aliyev, President of Tajikistan - Emomali Rahmon, President of Turkmenistan - Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov, President of Kyrgyzstan - Sadyr Japarov, President of Kazakhstan - Qasim-Jomart Tokayev, First President of Kazakhstan - President Nursultan Nazarbayev, Prime Minister of Armenia -Nicole Pashinyan.

The event, recapitulating this year’s cooperation, canvassed priority areas for the year ahead (2022). Attendees exchanged views on topical issues of regional and international magnitude.

Issues of close cooperation in overcoming the consequences of the pandemic and ensuring epidemiological safety were of grand significance.

Speaking about the priorities for further development of the CIS, Shavkat Mirziyoyev suggested focusing on partnership in three areas: political, economic and humanitarian.

Creation a full-fledged free trade zone in the CIS and strengthening transport links were labeled as important tasks.

The discussion centered on the importance of combining efforts to establish national programs and plans for sustainable "green" development while keeping in mind the global climate agenda.

It is noteworthy that Uzbekistan has increased its involvement in Commonwealth events in recent years where it has signed over 40 multilateral accords and is a member of 23 international organizations. For the first time, Uzbekistan presided over the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) last year.

As of 2021, Uzbek commodity exchange with CIS countries has ascended over 30% and about a thousand joint ventures have been set up.

Concluding his speech, President Shavkat Mirziyoyev, confirmed his willingness to further elaborate cooperation among CIS countries and congratulated all participants as wel as fraternal nations on upcoming New Year.