Uzbekistan - France: prospects of bilateral relations

In Paris, a delegation consisting of representatives of analytical centers of Uzbekistan held a meeting with the president of the well-known Institute of International and Strategic Relations (IRIS) in France, Pascal Boniface. The event was organized by the International Institute of Central Asia and the Institute of Forecasting and Security in Europe. The sides discussed issues of strengthening cooperation between Uzbekistan and France, exchanged views on positive changes in the Central Asian region.
The Head of IRIS was informed about the main provisions of the New Uzbekistan Development Strategy for 2022-2026 and the initiatives of the President of Uzbekistan aimed at strengthening the interconnectedness between Central Asia and neighboring regions. It was emphasized that the agreements reached within the framework of the official visit of the head of Uzbekistan to France in 2018 contribute to building up political dialogue, trade and economic ties and humanitarian exchanges between the two states.   
Following the meeting, the participants agreed to establish close research work in priority areas, agreed to hold joint events.  
"The impetus for the consistent strengthening and expansion of Uzbek-French cooperation is given by an effective dialogue between the leaders of the two countries," said Anvar Nasirov, Director of MICA. - Today France is an important partner of Uzbekistan in the economic, investment, financial and technical spheres, which is proved by examples of successful cooperation in the field of energy, automotive, geological exploration, production of building materials, tourism and others. Mutual trade is growing dynamically. In January-September of this year, the volume exceeded $ 230 million, including the export of Uzbek products increased nine times and reached almost 70 million. The current dynamics has a positive effect on the deepening of political and diplomatic, trade and economic, transport, cultural and humanitarian ties. Today, the large-scale reforms being implemented in Uzbekistan and the positive changes achieved in Central Asia create additional conditions for further building up mutually beneficial Uzbek-French cooperation in all areas, including for a constructive dialogue between the Central Asian region and the European Union.    
In turn, representatives of the expert circles of France gave a high assessment of the state and prospects of bilateral relations. 
Emmanuel Dupuy, President of the Institute for Forecasting and Security in Europe, noted: France fully supports large-scale reforms in Uzbekistan aimed at building a strong civil society and modernizing the economy. The expert stressed that thanks to the new regional course of Uzbekistan, implemented under the leadership of President Shavkat Mirziyoyev, a favorable political atmosphere has been created in Central Asia, which contributes to strengthening mutual trust and establishing mutually beneficial cooperation. The processes that have formed in the region open up additional opportunities for building up bilateral and multilateral partnerships.   
During the meeting, the French side also paid special attention to the prospects of expanding economic ties between the two countries. Interest was expressed in cooperation in such areas as "green" energy, textile, mining, electrical and chemical industries.    
Within the framework of the discussions, the participants of the round table analyzed the state and prospects of cooperation between Uzbekistan and France, identified priority areas requiring development and consistent expansion, made proposals that would contribute to further strengthening bilateral and multilateral relations, including within the framework of cooperation between Uzbekistan and France, as well as in the Central Asia -EU format.
Following the meeting, an agreement was reached on working out practical steps to implement joint programs and activities, in particular research, seminars and conferences, as well as expert meetings with representatives of Central Asian countries and the Institute for Forecasting and Security in Europe.
At the same time, a delegation of analytical centers of Uzbekistan met with Director of the French Institute of International Relations (IFRI) Tom Gomar, Head of the OECD-Eurasia Coordination Group William Thompson, Director of the International Analytical Center of the European Council on Foreign Relations (ECFR) Tara Varma and Director of the Center for Advanced Studies and International Information under the Prime Minister of France in the capital of France. (CEPII) by Antoine Bouet. 
The sides exchanged views on topical issues of Uzbek-French cooperation, the current situation in Central Asia and prospects for its development. It was emphasized that thanks to joint efforts, the partnership of the countries has been consistently expanding in almost all directions over the past five years.
It was noted that the transformations initiated by President Shavkat Mirziyoyev are important not only for Uzbekistan, but also contribute to the positive development of the entire Central Asia.
- The interest of the international community in the Central Asian region as a whole is growing, as evidenced by the effective international formats "5 + 1" with the participation of the United States, South Korea, Japan, India, China, Russia, the European Council and the Cooperation Council of the Arab States of the Persian Gulf, - said A. Nasirov. - And the region itself is also interested in multilateral platforms through which the Central Asian countries seek to build a constructive dialogue with the world's leading actors on equal terms. Uzbekistan aims to establish a constructive bilateral dialogue with the EU member states, one of the locomotives of which is France.
T. Gomar noted the growing interest of Paris and the European Union as a whole in Uzbekistan and the Central Asian region. It was indicated: This is largely due to the fact that Central Asia is beginning to play an important role in ensuring stability and sustainable development throughout the Eurasian continent. 
In addition, the sides exchanged views on regional security and sustainable development. Agreements have been reached on continuing joint work to further strengthen cooperation between experts from analytical centers of Uzbekistan and the European Union through scientific and practical events.  
Uzbekistan and France have great prospects for mutually beneficial cooperation in ensuring compliance of industrial goods with high European standards and technical regulations; creation of effective transport and logistics corridors for optimal access to each other's markets; expansion of educational, scientific, tourist and cultural exchanges. Joint projects in industry, transport, energy and innovation are of particular interest.
Following the meetings held in Paris, an agreement was reached on further strengthening mutually beneficial bilateral contacts. 
Zulfiya Turanazarova,
International Institute of Central Asia.