On 14 May 2026, the Diplomatic Academy under the University of World Economy and Diplomacy hosted the international conference “Central Asia: A New Paradigm of Regional Development”, organized jointly with the Office of the OSCE Project Co-ordinator in Uzbekistan.

The conference brought together heads of Diplomatic Academies from Central Asian countries and Azerbaijan, representatives of the United Nations Regional Centre for Preventive Diplomacy for Central Asia (UNRCCA), the Finnish Institute of International Affairs (FIIA), members of the diplomatic corps, civil society representatives, as well as leading national and international experts.

Welcoming remarks were delivered by the Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General for Central Asia and Head of UNRCCA, Kaha Imnadze. Speakers at the conference included First Deputy Chairman of the Senate of the Oliy Majlis and Rector of UWED Sodiq Safoyev, Deputy Adviser to the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan on Foreign Policy and Director of the International Institute for Central Asia Javlon Vakhabov, Deputy Minister of Culture and Tourism of the Republic of Türkiye Serdar Cham, and others.

The conference discussions focused on strengthening regional cooperation, transport connectivity, energy sustainability, climate and humanitarian security. Specific attention was paid to the Consultative Meetings of the Heads of State of Central Asia as an important mechanism for building trust and coordinating joint approaches to key regional development issues.

Participants highlighted the growing role of Central Asia as an autonomous actor in international affairs as well as the significance of increasing academic mobility and humanitarian, scientific, and educational collaboration.

Following the conference, participants noted that the recommendations developed and the exchange of views would contribute to further strengthening regional cooperation and promoting Central Asia as a space of stability and sustainable development.