The University of World Economy and Diplomacy hosted an International Conference on “Sustainable Development in Central Asia”.

It was attended by scientists, experts, and representatives of higher education institutions from the UK, Kazakhstan, Sweden, and Japan, as well as faculty and students of UWED.

First Deputy Chairman of the Senate of the Oliy Majlis, UWED Rector Sodiq Safoyev, Ambassador of Japan to Uzbekistan Hatori Takashi, President of the University of Tsukuba Nagata Kyosuke and Executive Director of the Nippon Foundation Mori Yuji addressed the event.

Mr. Safoyev noted that the transformation of Central Asia into a region of stability and sustainable development meets the national interests of Uzbekistan. He stressed that the consistent implementation of the principle outlined by the President of the country “The main priority of Uzbekistan’s foreign policy is Central Asia” made it possible to create an entirely new political atmosphere in the region, achieve an irreversible level of consolidation, and open up new prospects for mutually beneficial, fruitful and constructive partnership.

Five panel discussions on “Modern Challenges of Eurasia: Resilience and Development”, “Decolonization”, “Sustainability Problems”, “Education” and “Migration” were held.

Speakers noted that Central Asia is facing severe challenges in terms of sustainable development in energy, water supply, climate change, transport and logistics remoteness, as well as in the fight against international terrorism, religious extremism, drug trafficking, illegal immigration, criminal cross-border organizations, and cyber threats. It was also emphasized that the prospects for sustainable development in the region are linked to establishing peace in neighboring Afghanistan.

The experts expressed their opinions on the need to intensify and strengthen multifaceted cooperation between the states of Central Asia in a comprehensive response to these challenges to ensure economic and social progress and maintain peace, stability, and security in the region.

The primary attention at the conference was paid to the education sector in Central Asia, which is still somewhat lower than in developed countries.

In his speech, the President of the University of Tsukuba Nagata Kyosuke emphasized that the main pillars of development in the modern world are education and youth.

“The greatest investment should be made in the youth when discussing the future. The quality of education is an integral part of sustainable development, which must be constantly supported”, he noted.

Participants stated that such countries as Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan have well-developed education systems. But, in their opinion, in the region as a whole, this area should be the subject of active efforts by governments and international organizations to improve the accessibility and quality of education.

In this context, it was noted that the educational system in the region is also negatively affected by migration processes. Children of migrants often lack access to or face difficulties obtaining a quality education. This leads to inequality in educational opportunities and can negatively affect the region’s development.

At the event, the participants exchanged views on the prospects for further strengthening cooperation between the region’s countries in the context of a radical transformation of international relations and developing proposals to ensure sustainable development in Central Asia.