View from China: The foreign policy course of the President of Uzbekistan serves to strengthen regional and international cooperation

The Embassy of our country in Beijing held a "round table" at the Institute for Social Development Studies of Europe and Asia under the State Council of the People's Republic of China on Constitutional reform in Uzbekistan.

The Institute is one of the leading think tanks in China and actively contributes to the formation of the state domestic and foreign policy of China.

The event was attended by the heads and researchers of this Institute, the Institute of Eurasian Studies of the Academy of International Relations, Beijing National University.

The participants of the round table were provided with detailed information about the current development processes of the New Uzbekistan, Constitutional reform, and the essence of the proposed amendments to the Basic Law.

According to the general opinion of Chinese experts, the changes taking place in Uzbekistan, in particular, the Constitutional Reform, reflect the priorities of the national interests of the republic, since they ensure continuity and consistency of the country's development processes. Most importantly, Constitutional reform in Uzbekistan is important in strengthening and improving the legal framework to ensure the rapid development of the country.

Li Yunchuan, Director of the Institute for Social Development of Europe and Asia, stated that Uzbekistan continues its development path under the leadership of President Shavkat Mirziyoyev.

- In 2017-2022, the first stage of the reform program was successfully completed. The Development Strategy of the New Uzbekistan for 2022-2026 defines higher and more ambitious tasks for the development of the republic," he said.

The Director of the Institute considers Constitutional reform in Uzbekistan a natural and necessary process, given the major development tasks that the country has set for itself. He welcomed the fact that 65 percent of the text of the Constitution is being updated on the basis of proposals from the people of Uzbekistan, the provisions on human rights and freedoms have been increased three and a half times, and, based on this, important amendments and additions to the Basic Law are being submitted to a referendum.

"President Shavkat Mirziyoyev has created the most important foundations for the new development of Uzbekistan, including economic liberalization, freedom and security of society, and a friendly external environment," he said.

According to him, the scientific and expert circles of China are following with great interest the far-sighted and comprehensive reform program of the President of Uzbekistan.

"We particularly appreciate Uzbekistan's contribution to strengthening regional stability and security, further strengthening cooperation ties in the region," Li Yunchuan said.

Director of the Institute of Eurasian Studies of the Academy of International Relations of China Ding Xiaoxing noted that since 2017, Uzbekistan has entered a completely new period of development and has achieved unique successes.

- Just one example: in the years after the pandemic, only a few countries were able to achieve economic growth, - said the expert. - It is noteworthy that Uzbekistan is among them. It is not easy to achieve the economic results achieved by Uzbekistan in the context of complex international relations. At the initiative of President Shavkat Mirziyoyev, Consultative meetings of the heads of Central Asian states were held, the situation in the region was completely updated. This is actually a great heroism of the leader of Uzbekistan. Uzbekistan sees its development in close connection with the development of the countries of the region, cares about common interests. This is recognized by the entire international community. A few days ago, when President Shavkat Mirziyoyev expressed his opinion about the current complex international relations, his bold thoughts that "I am on the side of my people, my people are on the side of great Uzbekistan" touched us, Chinese experts. The foreign policy of the head of Uzbekistan serves to strengthen regional and international cooperation.”

Senior researcher of the Institute Xu Tao also stressed that the Constitutional reform will serve a more stable development of Uzbekistan.

In his opinion, the approach based on the principle of "for human dignity" is clearly manifested in the center of reforms, which include such issues as strong social protection and care for the needy, guarantees of civil rights and freedoms, raising the status of teachers and youth policy.

"We are witnessing a historical process during which the foundation of the third Renaissance is being laid in Uzbekistan," Xu Tao said.

Professor Wang Xiangjiu from the People's University of China noted that the reforms in Uzbekistan are a great historical process and make a great contribution to the development of the region.

"It would not be an exaggeration to say that Uzbekistan has become a driving force for the development of Central Asia," Wang Xiangjiu said.

He noted that the prospects for cooperation between China and Uzbekistan in the field of education are very wide, while drawing attention to the fact that raising the status of teachers in Uzbekistan, the great attention paid to education, is of urgent importance for the country.

The Chinese scientist considers the country's great success to be the growth in the number of higher education institutions from 77 to 210 over the past six years, as well as the fact that enrollment in them has increased 5 times, and the number of students has reached 1 million people.