Tazeen Akhtar from Tashkent
On 23 Oct 2021, Deputy Foreign Minister of Uzbekistan Mr Furqat Siddiq has said that Uzbekistan has taken serious initiatives in the previous years that has not only brought many achievements for our country and people but for the whole region as well. He has said that we still have to work for more goals and tasks .
He was addressing the journalists and observers from different countries of the world who are in Tashkent to cover the Presidential Elections being held on 24 Oct 2021.
He visited the press center of the election commission to shed light on the role of Uzbekistan in the Central Asian Region.
Mr Bakhtiyar Musataf Deputy Director of Central Asian Institute also expressed his views on the subject of cooperation among the regional partners and the role of Uzbekistan in building peaceful friendly neighbourhood.
Uzbekistan has evolved and implemented a robust foreign policy in the previous years that has helped a lot in promoting good neighborhoods in Central Asia. The history of CARs is common and unique. Therefore the nations are cooperating with one another in political, cultural, economic and other sectors.
This approach has enhanced the pace of development that has helped upgrade the standards of lives of the people of Central Asia.
Mr. Furqat and Mr. Bakhtiyar were invited especially by the National Association of Electronic Mass Media of Uzbekistan to speak in detail and reply to the questions of the participants.
Mr. Furqat Siddiq said that special reforms have been introduced in the country from 2016 to 2021. Work on these reforms is continued in every sphere of life. Few years is a short period of time to implement the reforms and get the benefits. Uzbekistan has secured a number of achievements on international and regional level in the last 5 years. CARs are cooperating for common benefits. We had only 312 Joint Ventures but from 2017 the number increased to 1500.
UNO passed four resolutions on cooperation among Central Asia and it was the initiative of Uzbekistan.
Mr Furqat said that good relations with neighbours, seeking solution of problems in friendly manner so that they become solvable issues instead of problems is our common strategy. Borders are open, visas are easy and people can travel in Central Asia freely and easily to meet their relatives and do business. a strong civil society and competitive economy is our priority.
“Spirit of Central Asia has become a notion now. We started the Tashkent Central Asia Initiative in the same spirit. We have to increase cross border trade and introduce a new model of economy. Industrial cooperation is on the cards.” He noted.
Mr Furqat briefed the participants about connectivity efforts of Uzbekistan recalling the Central Asia South Asia Connectivity Conference hosted by Uzbekistan Government in last July at Tashkent. He mentioned Uzbekistan is at the crossroads of silk route. Our country is hub of transport between the regions. The improvement of ports of Caspian, China Kyrgyz Automobile Road, Tirmiz, Mazar I Sharif, Peshawar Railway project are in pipelines.
He shared that PM Imran Khan of Pakistan visited Tashkent and participated in connectivity conference. Pakistan is reciprocating in the connectivity efforts.
“Regarding Afghanistan, all countries in the Tashkent conference agreed on peace and stability in Afghanistan. We will not leave Afghanistan alone in difficult time. Uzbekistan is providing assistance in shape of food, energy and other humanitarian aid. Foreign Minister Mr. Kamilov visited Kabul on 7 Oct and later Uzbek Afghan working meeting of joint commission was held in Tirmiz. Pakistani FM Mr. Qureshy has also visited Kabul. These high level interactions prove that the trans Afghan projects will become reality soon .
To a question by Tazeen Akhtar about what is the common approach of CARs on recognition of Taliban Government , Mr. Furqat replied that the matter is under consideration.
