Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev called for closer coordination and cooperation with Russia while speaking at the second “Central Asia–Russia” summit, held on October 9 in Dushanbe.
The summit, chaired by Tajikistan’s President Emomali Rahmon, brought together the leaders of Russia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan. Key topics included trade, investment, infrastructure, energy, and regional security.
In his address, Mirziyoyev described Russia as Uzbekistan’s “key strategic partner and ally,” emphasizing the nations’ “shared history, cultural and mental closeness.”
“Russia was, is, and will always remain our key, priority strategic partner and ally,” he said.
The president noted that growing geopolitical tensions and crises in the global economy require closer coordination specifically with Russia. According to him, the “Central Asia–Russia” format has become a key mechanism for maintaining regional stability and developing joint responses to new challenges.
He proposed holding annual high-level meetings, establishing regular government contacts, and creating a Coordinating Council at the level of deputy prime ministers to accelerate the implementation of joint projects.
Economy and transport
Mirziyoyev called economic partnership the central direction of cooperation. He said trade turnover between Uzbekistan, Russia, and other regional countries grew by 15 percent over the past year and this year. He proposed developing measures to further boost trade — from simplifying procedures to launching the “Central Asia–Russia Agroexpress” project.
Particular emphasis was placed on infrastructure. Mirziyoyev urged aligning national transport programs into a unified regional transport and logistics framework linked to the North–South corridor. The goal, he said, is to create a sustainable and interconnected transport network resilient to external shocks.
Industry, innovation, and energy
Uzbekistan, Mirziyoyev noted, is actively expanding industrial cooperation with Russian companies, implementing major projects in the gas-chemical and metallurgy sectors. He proposed establishing a “Central Asia–Russia Industrial Engineering Hub” in Bukhara, which would serve as a platform for advanced technology development and implementation.
He also suggested granting the Tashkent exhibition Innoprom. Central Asia the status of the region’s main industrial and innovation platform. This year’s event brought together more than 10,000 participants from 35 countries, with deals worth over $5 billion signed.
Speaking about energy, Mirziyoyev announced the start of construction of Uzbekistan’s first nuclear power plant in cooperation with Russia, along with a Nuclear Medicine Center. He proposed establishing a Regional Competence Center for Nuclear Energy and developing a “Central Asia–Russia Energy Partnership” program to promote technology transfer and knowledge exchange.
Security and regional stability
The Uzbek president stressed the need for closer cooperation among security services and law enforcement agencies to combat terrorism, extremism, human trafficking, and cyber threats. He also proposed holding high-level consultations on Afghanistan, including joint projects aimed at ensuring stability and development in the country.
Humanitarian and scientific initiatives
Among humanitarian proposals were the annual Festival of Culture and Arts of the Peoples of Central Asia and Russia and the creation of an “Engineers of the Future” academic consortium, uniting leading universities and research institutions across the region.
Mirziyoyev also proposed launching a grant program for young scientists and researchers, opening branches of Russia’s Skolkovo Innovation Center, and forming a regional expert council on artificial intelligence and digital technologies.
In conclusion, the Uzbek leader reaffirmed his commitment to “expanding comprehensive cooperation with Russia in the interests of security, sustainable development, and prosperity of all regional countries,” his press service said.
The summit concluded with the adoption of a Joint Communiqué and an Action Plan for 2025–2027 to further advance cooperation.