TASHKENT – The International Conference Central Asian Connectivity: Challenges and New Opportunities wound up yesterday in Tashkent, Uzbekistan.

The two-day international conference discussed ways of boosting security and economic cooperation between Central Asian countries which kicked off on Tuesday in the capital of Uzbekistan.

The conference, themed “Interconnectivity in Central Asia: Challenges and New Opportunities,” is organized by Uzbekistan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the United Nation’s Regional Center for Preventive Diplomacy for Central Asia (UNRCCA).

The conference was closed with a review of results of the panel discussions.

Addressing the closing ceremony, Uzbek Foreign Minister Abdulaziz Kamilov expressed his gratitude towards the guests who participated enthusiastically in debates for the future of the Central Asia.

He praised the friendly atmosphere of the conference, adding that that all experts and nations of the Central Asia are working to boost the cooperation. He added that countries of the Central Asia want to form a regional group for cooperation but they do not want to launch any organization but they can look at other countries as their model for boosting ties. He reiterated that regionalization should not lead to ignoring globalization but regional countries should also keep their identities. He called for scientific research in any field which strengthen the regional states. He also noted that regional states can cooperate with their neighboring countries like Afghanistan which is very effective in the performance of the regional bloc.

He expressed hope that the results of the conference could be a guideline for the upcoming meeting of leaders of Central Asian states which will be held in April in Tashkent.

Kamilov added that all those efforts are for the sake of peace, security, stability and prosperity of the regional states.

Meanwhile Natalia Gherman, special representative of the UN secretary-general as well as the head of the UNRCCA, hailed the conference and culled it a success.

She said that regional cooperation is key to the sustainable and social development, adding that UN is determined to support the Central Asia regional cooperation but it is up to the efforts of the regional states.

She reiterated that stability and security of the region is very important and all threats for the region should be assessed.

During the two-day event, some panel discussions in fields of energy, economy, cultural and tourism, security and antiterrorism discussed and some proposals were presented which can be on the agenda in the upcoming meeting of leaders of the regional states.

Foreign experts from 36 countries and representatives of leading analytical and scientific organizations in Uzbekistan exchanged views on regional security issues, as well as cooperation in trade, economic, transport, communications, environmental, humanitarian and other areas.

By: F. Taherpoor