Dear Sadyr Nurgozhoevich!

Distinguished heads of state!

I am sincerely grateful to the President of Kyrgyzstan, esteemed Sadyr Nurgozhoevich Japarov, for the initiative to hold our informal meeting and for the warm welcome on the shores of the “Kyrgyz Sea” – the beautiful Issyk-Kul.

During these two days in Kyrgyzstan, I was impressed by the results of the large-scale reforms being carried out under your leadership.

The country demonstrates high rates of economic development, and its international prestige is steadily growing.

We congratulate you and the brotherly people on the election of Kyrgyzstan as a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council.

I would also like to express my gratitude to the President of Turkmenistan, Serdar Gurbangulyyevich Berdimuhamedov, for his effective chairmanship of the Consultative Meetings.

Dear participants of the summit!

Today we have gathered on the eve of the celebration of the 35th anniversary of the independence of our states.

Over these years, every country has followed its own unique and distinctive path toward statehood, economic growth, and national revival.

Thanks to joint efforts, Central Asia, once divided, is now consolidating in pursuit of shared development goals.

At the same time, the complex and unpredictable international reality requires further decisive actions and closer coordination from us.

The accession of the Republic of Azerbaijan to the format of Consultative Meetings brings our interaction to a qualitatively new, macro-regional level.

We are facing a historic opportunity to form a unified development space that links Central Asia, the South Caucasus, and our close neighbor, Afghanistan.

It is necessary to make full use of this opportunity and, through joint efforts, lay a solid foundation for sustainable development, connectivity, and good neighborliness in the heart of Eurasia.

Dear colleagues!

The time has come to form a sustainable architecture of regional interaction. Its construction should be based on effective cooperation institutions, close contacts between sectoral agencies, direct regional ties, and long-term joint programs in key development areas.

We should strengthen coordination within intergovernmental organizations and “Central Asia Plus” formats, thereby enhancing international standing of our region.

Further practical steps are required to strengthen trade, economic, and transport connectivity, enhance end-to-end industrial and technological chains, develop common digital services, and launch investment platforms.

Central Asia should become a competitive hub for education, science, and innovation in the field of big data. This can be achieved through the creation of an integrated infrastructure combining human resources, artificial intelligence technologies, data centers and energy capacities.

Protecting environment has always been, and continues to be a key priority of the regional agenda.

The challenges emerging in our shared natural environment do not recognize national borders, and therefore our response to them must be collective.

This summer’s extreme heat has once again demonstrated that climate change is already becoming a factor with a direct impact on the economy, water and energy security, public health, and quality of life. It is essential to develop long-term solutions for our collective adaptation to these emerging risks.

The humanitarian dimension remains one of enduring priorities of our cooperation. For centuries, our peoples have lived side by side, developed trade relations, exchanged knowledge and cultural traditions.

As modern cooperation deepens, our sense of common belonging is also strengthening. While preserving the unique national identity of our peoples, a common regional identity is gradually taking shape.

I am confident that the qualitative renewal of the substance of our work in this area will further strengthen the sense of unity, solidarity, and mutual understanding among our peoples.

Dear friends!

I fully support the initiatives and proposals voiced today to further strengthen our cooperation.

I take this opportunity to wish the esteemed President of the Republic of Kazakhstan, Kassym-Jomart Kemelevich Tokayev, and the entire Kazakh people a successful holding of the upcoming elections to the new Kurultai.

In conclusion, I would like to once again emphasize my deep conviction that our common strength lies in unity, mutual trust, and a firm commitment to working together to create and build better future.

I wish everyone robust health, peace, and new successes, and the peoples of our countries – well-being and prosperity.

On July 31, President of the Republic of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev took part in an informal meeting of the heads of state of Central Asia and Azerbaijan, held in Cholpon-Ata in the Kyrgyz Republic.

The meeting was attended by President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev, President of the Republic of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, President of the Kyrgyz Republic Sadyr Japarov, President of the Republic of Tajikistan Emomali Rahmon, and President of Turkmenistan Serdar Berdimuhamedov.

The heads of state exchanged views on key issues related to sustainable development, economic growth, regional security, and improving the well-being of the peoples of Central Asia and Azerbaijan.

At the beginning of his address, the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan expressed his appreciation to President Sadyr Japarov of the Kyrgyz Republic for his initiative in convening the informal summit and for the warm hospitality extended on the shores of Issyk-Kul.

The President of Uzbekistan also expressed his gratitude to President Serdar Berdimuhammedov of Turkmenistan for his effective chairmanship of the Consultative Meetings format.

On the eve of the 35th anniversary of the independence of the countries of the region, the President of Uzbekistan highly commended the achievements of all the countries in consolidating statehood, achieving sustained economic growth, and advancing national renewal.

"Thanks to joint efforts, Central Asia, is now consolidating in pursuit of shared development goals," the President Shavkat Mirziyoyev emphasized.

Analyzing the realities of the complex and unpredictable international situation, he called on the participants to take further decisive action and ensure closer coordination. As the President of Uzbekistan emphasized, Azerbaijan's accession to the Consultative Meetings format elevates cooperation among the countries to a qualitatively new, macro-regional level.

"We are facing a historic opportunity to form a unified development space linking Central Asia, the South Caucasus, and our close neighbor, Afghanistan," the Leader of Uzbekistan stated.

In order to strengthen the foundation for sustainable development, interconnectedness, and good-neighborliness among the states of Central Asia and Azerbaijan, a vision for the priorities of regional cooperation was presented.

First and foremost, the importance of further forming a stable architecture of regional interaction was noted, the structure of which should be based on effective institutions of cooperation, close contacts among sectoral departments, direct ties between regions, and long-term joint programs in key areas of development.

President Shavkat Mirizyoyev emphasized the need to strengthen coordination within the framework of intergovernmental organizations and the "Central Asia Plus" formats, which contribute to enhancing the region's international standing.

Further steps to strengthen trade, economic, and transport connectivity, expand end-to-end industrial and technological value chains, develop common digital services, and launch investment platforms require detailed elaboration.

Transforming Central Asia into a competitive hub for education, science, and innovation was highlighted as a promising task to be achieved through the creation of an integrated infrastructure combining human resources, artificial intelligence technologies, data centers, and energy capacity.

It was particularly emphasized that environmental protection has always been and remains a key priority on the regional agenda. The challenges arising in our shared natural environment do not recognize state borders, which means that the response to them must also be shared.

"This summer's extreme heat has once again demonstrated that climate change is already emerging as a factor directly affecting the economy, water and energy security, public health, and quality of life. It is essential to develop long-term solutions for our collective adaptation to these emerging risks." the President of Uzbekistan noted.

The humanitarian dimension was highlighted as one of the enduring priorities of cooperation. The peoples of the region have lived side by side for centuries, developing trade and exchanging knowledge and cultural traditions. As cooperation deepens, the sense of community among the peoples of the region continues to strengthen.

"While preserving the unique national identity of our peoples, a common regional identity is gradually taking shape. I am confident that the qualitative renewal of the substance of our work in this area will further strengthen the sense of unity, solidarity, and mutual understanding among our peoples,” President Shavkat Mirizyoyev emphasized.

Concluding his address, the President of Uzbekistan expressed his deep conviction that our common strength lies in unity, mutual trust, and a firm commitment to working together to build a better future.

The summit also featured speeches by the leaders of the Central Asian states and Azerbaijan, who shared their assessments of the current state and prospects for the development of regional cooperation.

Following the summit, the Cholpon-Ata Declaration was adopted.

A ceremony was held to present the Order of Manas, 1st Degree to President of the Republic of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev.

The highest state award of the Kyrgyz Republic was presented to the President of Uzbekistan by President Sadyr Japarov.

Expressing his deep gratitude to the President and the entire fraternal people of Kyrgyzstan, the Leader of Uzbekistan emphasized that he views this high award as recognition of the joint efforts to strengthen the centuries-old bonds of true friendship and good-neighborliness between the two peoples, as well as the shared aspiration to elevate relations between Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan to a new historic level, that of an alliance.

Established in 1996, the Order of Manas is one of the highest state awards of the Kyrgyz Republic. It is conferred upon citizens of the Kyrgyz Republic and foreign nationals for outstanding contributions to strengthening statehood, developing international cooperation, peace, friendship, and mutual understanding among peoples.

Following the high-level talks, President of the Republic of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev and President of the Kyrgyz Republic Sadyr Japarov signed the Treaty on Allied Relations.

A ceremony for the exchange of bilateral documents was also held in the presence of the heads of state, including:

- Treaty on sections of the Uzbek-Kyrgyz state border;

- Agreement on the joint use of the Chashma spring;

- Agreement on state social insurance and pension provision;

- Agreement on mutual recognition of credits in higher education;

- Protocol on introducing amendments and additions to the intergovernmental Agreement on checkpoints across the state border;

- Protocol to the intergovernmental Agreement on mutual travel of citizens;

- Protocol to the Agreement on resort and recreational facilities located in the Issyk-Kul region of the Kyrgyz Republic;

- Action Plan in the cultural sphere for 2026–2027

- Joint Action Plan in the tourism sector for 2026–2027;

- Treaty on the "Buston" boarding house in the Ton district of the Issyk-Kul region of the Kyrgyz Republic;

- Plan of practical measures in the agro-industrial complex for 2026–2027.

From 22 June to 4 July 2026, the Diplomatic Academy under the University of World Economy and Diplomacy organized advanced training courses for employees of the Ministry of Defence of the Republic of Uzbekistan on the theme: “Fundamentals of the Foreign Policy of the Republic of Uzbekistan. Diplomatic Protocol, Etiquette and the Negotiation Process.”

The training program included lectures and seminars on the fundamental principles of Uzbekistan's renewed foreign policy, the legal underpinnings of foreign policy activities and international agreements, current trends and significant challenges in global politics, matters related to regional and international security, the negotiation process, diplomatic protocol and etiquette, the role of soft power in diplomacy, issues of water diplomacy, future prospects for Central Asia, and skills in public speaking.
 
The sessions were conducted by the faculty members of the Diplomatic Academy, as well as prominent experts from other dedicated organizations of the Republic of Uzbekistan.
Certificates of completion in an appropriated format were awarded to all participants who successfully accomplished the training program.

As part of the program of events in Tbilisi, a ceremony was held to present President of the Republic of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev with the Order of the Golden Fleece, Georgia's highest state honor.

The high award was presented to President Shavkat Mirziyoyev by Georgian President Mikheil Kavelashvili in recognition of his outstanding contribution to deepening multifaceted Uzbek-Georgian relations.

The Leader of Uzbekistan expressed his gratitude to Georgian President Mikheil Kavelashvili, Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze, and Parliament Speaker Shalva Papuashvili for the high honor and wished the friendly people of Georgia peace, well-being, and prosperity.

The Order of the Golden Fleece, established in 1998, is one of Georgia's highest state honors. It is awarded for special merit in strengthening ties with foreign states and international organizations, as well as for promoting Georgian culture, science, and art.

The name of the Order is associated with the ancient myth of the Golden Fleece and Colchis, a historical region in present-day Georgia.

Over the years, this high honor has been bestowed upon Queen Elizabeth II of Great Britain, King Abdullah II of Jordan, Chancellor Gerhard Schröder of Germany, President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan of Türkiye, President Heydar Aliyev of Azerbaijan, and others.

President Shavkat Mirziyoyev also signed the guest book of honor at the Orbeliani Palace.

On 26 June 2026, the University of World Economy and Diplomacy (UWED) hosted the Tashkent Dialogue on the Nuclear-Weapon-Free Zone under the theme "A Safe Nuclear Future for Central Asia: From Non-Proliferation to Risk Management".

The event was jointly organized by the Institute for Advanced International Studies at UWED, the Institute for Strategic and Regional Studies under the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan, and the James Martin Center for Nonproliferation Studies at the Middlebury Institute of International Studies (USA).

The Dialogue was opened with welcoming remarks by S.Safoyev, Rector of UWED; E.Aripov, Director of the Institute for Strategic and Regional Studies; A.Vasilyeva, Director of the Monterey Initiative at the Middlebury Institute; and M.Tleuberdi, Permanent Representative of Kazakhstan to the International Organizations in Vienna (online).

During the Dialogue, national and international experts discussed strengthening the global non-proliferation regime, ensuring the safe development of peaceful nuclear energy, managing nuclear and radiological risks, enhancing cooperation with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), and improving national regulatory systems. Particular attention was also paid to the impact of climate change on nuclear safety and to strengthening the security of Central Asia’s transport and logistics infrastructure.

At the conclusion of the event, participants emphasized the importance of expanding regional cooperation, sharing best practices, and developing effective mechanisms to address emerging challenges in nuclear and radiation safety.

From 8 to 20 June 2026, the Diplomatic Academy under the University of World Economy and Diplomacy organized advanced training courses entitled “Fundamentals of the Foreign Policy Activities of the Republic of Uzbekistan. Diplomatic Protocol, Etiquette and Negotiation Processes” for representatives of the Ministry of Defense of the Republic of Uzbekistan.

The training program included lectures and seminars on the fundamental principles of Uzbekistan's renewed foreign policy, the legal underpinnings of foreign policy activities and international agreements, current trends and significant challenges in global politics, matters related to regional and international security, the negotiation process, diplomatic protocol and etiquette, the role of soft power in diplomacy, issues of water diplomacy, future prospects for Central Asia, and skills in public speaking.
 
The sessions were conducted by the faculty members of the Diplomatic Academy, as well as prominent experts from other dedicated organizations of the Republic of Uzbekistan.
Certificates of completion in an appropriated format were awarded to all participants who successfully accomplished the training program.

On June 22, President of the Republic of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev received the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Azerbaijan Huseyn Guliyev who is concluding his diplomatic mission in Uzbekistan.

The Head of State highly commended Ambassador’sfruitful work and personal contribution to the development and strengthening of the strategic partnership and alliance between the two countries.

An intensive dialogue has been established at the highest and other levels. Significant progress has also been achieved in trade and economic cooperation: bilateral trade has increased severalfold in recent years, 280 enterprises with Azerbaijani capital have been launched, and a Joint Investment Company has been established.

Cooperation projects in the fields of geology, agriculture, transport, urban planning, textiles, pharmaceuticals, and other sectors are currently underway.

Important cultural and humanitarian exchange programs are also being implemented.

At the conclusion of the meeting, President Shavkat Mirziyoyev awarded Huseyn Guliyev the “MehnatShuhrati” Order in recognition of his significant contribution to strengthening the multifaceted relations between Uzbekistan and Azerbaijan.

In turn, the Ambassador expressed sincere gratitude to the President of Uzbekistan for the high assessment of his diplomatic mission and thanked him for the comprehensive support provided in advancing the full-scale partnership and cooperation between Uzbekistan and Azerbaijan.

On June 22, President of the Republic of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev received the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Azerbaijan Huseyn Guliyev who is concluding his diplomatic mission in Uzbekistan.

The Head of State highly commended Ambassador’sfruitful work and personal contribution to the development and strengthening of the strategic partnership and alliance between the two countries.

An intensive dialogue has been established at the highest and other levels. Significant progress has also been achieved in trade and economic cooperation: bilateral trade has increased severalfold in recent years, 280 enterprises with Azerbaijani capital have been launched, and a Joint Investment Company has been established.

Cooperation projects in the fields of geology, agriculture, transport, urban planning, textiles, pharmaceuticals, and other sectors are currently underway.

Important cultural and humanitarian exchange programs are also being implemented.

At the conclusion of the meeting, President Shavkat Mirziyoyev awarded Huseyn Guliyev the “MehnatShuhrati” Order in recognition of his significant contribution to strengthening the multifaceted relations between Uzbekistan and Azerbaijan.

In turn, the Ambassador expressed sincere gratitude to the President of Uzbekistan for the high assessment of his diplomatic mission and thanked him for the comprehensive support provided in advancing the full-scale partnership and cooperation between Uzbekistan and Azerbaijan.

Distinguished participants of the meeting!

Dear Ms. Odile Renaud-Basso!

Dear friends!

I am pleased to see you at the regular plenary session of the Foreign Investors Council.

First of all, dear Ms. Renaud-Basso, I would like to express my sincere gratitude for your continued support of our reforms and for your effective co-chairmanship of the Council.

I also extend my sincere respect and appreciation to the leaders of all international organizations and foreign companies participating in today's session.

Ladies and gentlemen!

In recent years, the Council has evolved from a simple advisory mechanism into a platform for practical reforms, a reliable bridge between New Uzbekistan and the global investment community.

Today, the Council has acquired the status of an independent association and has, in the fullest sense of the word, developed into a strong and influential institution.

Over the past year, the number of Council participants has increased from 54 to 85 companies. They cover 23 sectors of our economy and directly participate in the activities of the working groups.

The EBRD, ADB and International Finance Corporation are actively engaged in the work of the Executive Committee of the Council.

It is noteworthy that the active involvement of all our members in the Council is steadily growing. This is a clear testament to the high level of trust in this investment platform.

Distinguished Council participants!

Last year, we also had opportunity to meet and discuss a wide range of important issues. At the previous meeting, concrete solutions were provided for 21 initiatives put forward.

I would like to particularly emphasize that the investors’ proposals are being translated into practical government policies. A significant number of recommendations have already been incorporated into improvements of our regulatory and legal framework.

In particular investor-friendly amendments have been introduced to the Tax Code; intercompany domestic loan agreements have been exempted from financial control; the right to accelerated depreciation of fixed assets has been granted; numerous mandatory requirements for foreign companies reporting under international standards have been abolished.

Furthermore, a draft Law on Alternative Investment Funds has been developed. A program for implementing responsible business conduct standards has been prepared, and work has been undertaken to align 16 technical regulations with international standards.

At the same time, we have taken new steps toward fulfilling international commitments aimed at ensuring equal and fair conditions for foreign investors.

Recently, we announced our decision to submit an application to accede to the OECD Declaration on International Investment and Multinational Enterprises.

As a logical continuation of our efforts in this direction, the adoption of the Constitutional Law on the Tashkent International Financial Center is expected.

All of this serves as clear evidence that your ideas and proposals are being translated into concrete actions.

Distinguished members of the Council!

Over the past period, the working groups under the Council have held more than 50 productive meetings for investors.

As a result, under the co-chairmanship of foreign investors, issues were comprehensively discussed in priority areas, such as alternative investment funds, pledge legislation, responsible business conduct, professional education and workforce development, tax administration, land allocation, and energy.

In preparation for today's meeting we received 120 new proposals and initiatives from you. Following a thorough review, these proposals were consolidated into seven priority areas.

These include issues of improving the investment climate, tax system, cadastral administration, energy, financial and banking system, corporate governance, artificial intelligence, and the digital economy.

In particular, the following proposals are especially relevant today: simplifying monitoring procedures in foreign exchange circulation; introducing new financial mechanisms and instruments, including Islamic insurance, green financing, and launching the sale of distressed bank assets; promoting the adoption of ESG principles by enterprises, including environmental sustainability, social responsibility, and effective corporate governance.

Responsible officials have been assigned to each of these areas, and specific solutions have already been developed.

Taking this opportunity, I would like to express my gratitude to the co-chairs of the working groups who assumed this important responsibility – the heads of Vision Invest, BDO, Crowe, OTP Group, Franklin Templeton, Ernst & Young, Costa Legal, and ACWA Power.

I also express my special gratitude to all members of the Council for their active engagement throughout the year, as well as for their contribution to preparation of important documents and well-developed initiatives.

Ladies and gentlemen!

Now I would like to move to an open and a direct dialogue.

What challenges have you identified based on your analyses over the past year?

What additional measure should the Government take to further improve the investment climate?

Today, members of the Government – Deputy Prime Ministers and Ministers – are present in this hall.

We are prepared to listen carefully to your views and to discuss every concern and recommendation in detail.

If you have suggestions on how to make our cooperation more effective, we will consider them in the spirit of openness and constructive dialogue.

Without a doubt, all the issues raised today will be carefully reviewed, and a comprehensive roadmap will be developed based on the results of our meeting.

Deputy Prime Minister J. Khodjaev and Minister of Investments, Industry and Trade L. Kudratov will personally report to me on a quarterly basis regarding the implementation of the roadmap.

Would this approach be acceptable to you?

I now invite you to share your views and proposals.

***

Dear friends!

Our dialogue today has been exceptionally meaningful and productive.

I was particularly encouraged by the practical and result-oriented nature of your proposals.

The initiatives put forward by our trusted partners will contribute to improving the well-being of our people and further strengthening the investment climate.

Your contribution to building an open, stable, and competitive economy in New Uzbekistan is highly valued.

The more opportunities we create for such constructive dialogue, the greater our progress will be.

I would like to sincerely thank all of you for your active participation in the work of our Council. 

Taking this opportunity, I wish you good health, continued success in your professional endeavors, and happiness and prosperity in your personal lives.