Termez Dialogue: Large-scale Steps for the Future of Central and South Asia
These days, the city of Tashkent is hosting the second meeting of the Termez Dialogue, dedicated to the interconnections between Central and South Asia, under the title "Peace, Connectivity, and Stability: Building the Foundation of Common Prosperity." Founded in May last year, the first meeting of this international forum was held in the city of Termez, located on the border with Afghanistan.
According to the organizers' purpose, it facilitates the development of concrete practical solutions in advancing transport corridors (particularly the Trans-Afghan route), energy, trade, and ecology, thereby restoring Termez's role as a historical logistical and civilizational hub linking the markets of two densely populated regions.
Currently, this initiative continues to expand with fresh momentum. Bringing together experts, diplomats, and business circles from Central Asia, including Turkmenistan, as well as South Asia, the dialogue has turned into one of the most vital international platforms for constructing a new foundation for regional security and cooperation.
These regions, situated at the crossroads of crucial transport, trade, and energy routes, hold a major role in ensuring sustainable economic growth and social advancement. To this end, during the second meeting of the Termez Dialogue, the participants are paying special attention to the following priority areas that can yield concrete and long-term results:
- Economic interaction and trade turnover;
- Joint adaptation to climate change and ecological stability;
- Strengthening cultural-humanitarian relations and friendship between nations.
The main organizers of the meeting are the Institute for Strategic and Regional Studies under the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Uzbekistan, the Conference on Interaction and Confidence-Building Measures in Asia (CICA), the UN Regional Centre for Preventive Diplomacy for Central Asia (UNRCCA), and the UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA). The international forum is attended by heads of leading analytical centers from the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS), the European Union (EU), OSCE, OIC, EAEU, OTS, Arab states, as well as the USA, the South Caucasus, the Middle East, and the Asia-Pacific region.
Although the main part of the events is organized in Tashkent, according to the forum's program, the participants will visit the city of Termez to get acquainted with the operations of the "Ayritom" international trade center, the "Termez Cargo Center" international multifunctional transport-logistics hub, and the education center for Afghan citizens. Furthermore, the guests will take a tour to the historical city of Samarkand.
The official delegation representing Turkmenistan at this major interregional forum includes the following high-ranking officials:
- P. Yagshyyev — Deputy Minister of Finance and Economy of Turkmenistan;
- Sh. Meredov — Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Turkmenistan to the Republic of Uzbekistan;
- B. Niyazlyyev — Official of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Turkmenistan;
- Sh. Shiriyev — Director of the Center for Strategic Studies of the Institute of International Relations of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Turkmenistan;
- B. Amansaryyev — Senior Research Fellow of the Center for Strategic Studies.
The active participation of the Turkmen delegation is a clear proof of our country's consistent support for interregional transport-logistics projects and peaceful development initiatives.
