Address by the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan H.e. Mr. Shavkat Mirziyoyev at the meeting of the CIS heads of state council

Distinguished colleagues!

I am sincerely glad to welcome you.

I join in the words of gratitude to the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan, Kassym-Jomart K. Tokayev, for organizing the summit and traditional hospitality.

Our today’s meeting is a good opportunity to derive key conclusions and outline further plans for cooperation within the CIS.

Distinguished heads of delegations!

The day before, during the meeting of the Conference on Interaction and Confidence Building Measures in Asia, we exchanged views in detail on the current situation in the world.

Everyone noted the growing tension and strategic uncertainty, the undermining of the foundations and principles of the modern world order.

Threats to food and energy security have risen to dangerous levels, provoking social upheaval and instability in many regions.

Unfortunately, the Commonwealth space is no exception.

All these negative trends hinder our common efforts to ensure sustainable development.

Apparently, only together can we solve problems of this magnitude.

That is why we must make the most efficient use of the CIS platform - deeply analyze the existing potential of our Organization and use all the possibilities of multifaceted cooperation.

Distinguished colleagues!

I am pleased to note that, despite the challenges, we manage to ensure positive dynamics in all areas of partnership within the CIS.

Thus, the trade turnover between Uzbekistan and the Commonwealth states increased by 35% last year, and since the beginning of this year it has grown by another third.

Cooperation projects are being successfully implemented in mechanical engineering, energy, chemical, pharmaceutical, textile and other industries.

In recent months alone, more than 800 new enterprises have been launched with partners from the CIS countries.

Cultural ties are developing intensively.

Festivals, concerts, fairs, sports and other events are held on a regular basis.

Distinguished participants!

At this stage, in our opinion, it is important to focus common efforts on solving the following tasks.

First. It is necessary to take effective measures to remove barriers to mutual trade as soon as possible. We have talked a lot about this topic. It is time for practical action.

Uzbekistan is ready to go for the complete abolition of existing exemptions from the free trade regime within the CIS.

We also made an overriding decision to join the Rules for the Determination of a Country of Origin of Goods from 2009.

We expect the reciprocal steps from our partners in the Commonwealth.

In order to implement the adopted CIS Economic Development Strategy (until 2030), I propose to instruct our relevant ministers to hold consultations within a month with the development of specific measures to stimulate the growth of mutual trade.

Second. Food security remains a key area of ​​interaction. It is important to create favorable conditions for unhindered food supplies in the CIS in order to prevent artificial price increases and curb inflation.

Uzbekistan is ready to provide its partners with fruits and vegetables, including the early varieties, with the conclusion of long-term futures contracts.

In turn, we are interested in guaranteed supplies of grain, oilseeds and fodder crops.

We propose to instruct the Council of CIS Heads of Government to develop and approve a mechanism for coordinating annual quotas for guaranteed supplies of food products in demand.

Third. Given the serious challenges for our transport systems, we consider it critical to jointly develop the new logistics corridors.

We are talking about the projects for the construction of railways Termez - Mazar-i-Sharif - Kabul - Peshawar, as well as China - Kyrgyzstan - Uzbekistan.

These roads will organically complement the existing routes, contributing to the transformation of the CIS into a key link of transcontinental transportation, reducing their time and cost by several times.

I am convinced that the versatility of transnational corridors will open up vast new markets for the products of the Commonwealth states.

Fourth. In order to implement the adopted strategic policy documents in the field of innovative interaction and youth cooperation, we propose to hold in Uzbekistan, the first Congress of young scientists of the CIS countries under the motto “Youth for Innovation”.

On its sidelines - to organize a fair of start-up projects and innovative developments, presentations and “workshops” from the world leaders in the industry of the fourth generation.

Fifth. In the field of humanitarian cooperation, we are ready to continue to actively promote the implementation and participate in joint projects and programs in the field of education, science, healthcare, sports, culture and art.

We support the decision to declare the city of St. Petersburg the cultural capital of the CIS in 2024.

In addition, we are taking the initiative to hold an annual open Commonwealth Chess Cup.

Distinguished colleagues!

The Uzbek side supports the adoption of documents included on the agenda of this summit.

We also welcome the extension of the powers of Sergey Nikolayevich Lebedev, Chairman of the Executive Committee – Executive Secretary of the CIS for another period.

We know him well as an experienced and responsible leader, we appreciate his active efforts to expand multilateral relations between our countries.

In conclusion, I would like to wish the President of the Kyrgyz Republic Sadyr Nurgojoyevich Japarov success in his chairmanship of our Organization next year.

I am convinced that the results of today’s meeting will help increase the effectiveness of practical cooperation in the Commonwealth of Independent States.

Thank you for your attention.