May 16, 2023, the meeting was held between the Institute for Advanced International Studies and Members of Parliament of the United Kingdom Neil Coyle, Alicia Kearns along with foreign office representatives, UK’s ambassador to Uzbekistan HMA Tim Torlot and Embassy representative Matthew Wilmore.

The meeting was moderated by the deputy director of the IAIS - Dr. Akram Umarov. Over the course of bilateral discussions members of UK’s parliament had a chance to discuss a range of questions, including Afghanistan mainly about the Taliban government, China’s role in development and infrastructure projects in Pakistan and its possible impacts and opportunities for Afghanistan.

"Security Needs of States and Societies: Options for the OSCE"

The IAIS was happy to host workshop initiated by Project from the OSCE Network of Think Tanks and Academic Institutions to understand the security needs of states and societies, as well as identify potential options for action and response by the OSCE against turbulence in international arene. It is understood that the OSCE’s security agenda goes beyond the context of conflicts.

This workshop was supposed to examine potential implications in selected participating States located in Southeastern Europe, Central Asia, and/or Eastern Europe and the South Caucasus in discussions with representatives of governments, academic institutions and societies, and OSCE field operations.

On April 29, 2023, UWED Rector S. Safoev met with Director of the Oxford Center for Islamic Studies F. Nizami. The meeting was also attended by Deputy Director of the Institute for Advanced International Studies at the University of World Economy and Diplomacy (IAIS) A.Umarov and Head of the IPMI Center N.Muhammadkulova. During the meeting, the parties exchanged views on the importance and timeliness of the constitutional reform in Uzbekistan, and also discussed promising areas of institutional cooperation.
F. Nizami stressed that Uzbekistan in recent years "sets the tone" and "sets the development agenda" of Central Asia, and does not "catch up with it" as before. He believes that Central Asia is the heart of the Islamic civilization and has long served as a development model for the Islamic world. Given the history, scientific development and potential of the region, Central Asia has all the necessary legitimacy to be at the forefront of deradicalization issues and serves as an example for the rest of the world.

The director of the Oxford Center expressed his readiness to establish full-scale cooperation with UWED and IAIS in particular. As potential areas of cooperation, he outlined public health issues, the impact of artificial intelligence on the Muslim world, as well as nature conservation and climate change in Islamic countries.

F. Nizami expressed readiness for further cooperation with the University of World Economy and Diplomacy and the research institute on the territory of the UWED. The importance of scientific cooperation and exchange of the two organizations was also stated.

April 29 this year UWED hosted a meeting between UWED Rector S. Safoev and Secretary General of the Chinese Center for SCO Studies Deng Hao and Director of the Eurasia Institute of the Chinese Academy of International Affairs Li Ziguo.

At the beginning of the conversation, the Rector of the UWED stressed that today Uzbek-Chinese relations are developing dynamically in many areas. China's reforms in certain areas for Uzbekistan is a model for study and subsequent implementation.

Deng Hao expressed gratitude for the invitation of Chinese scientific circles to take part in the most important political event in Uzbekistan. The adoption of the new Constitution will give a huge positive effect to the further development of the Republic of Uzbekistan. China is always ready to support Uzbekistan in all such undertakings.

In the course of 20 years since its formation, the SCO has gradually expanded and turned into an international structure with ever more significant influence. Given the current geopolitical turbulence, the importance of the Organization is growing even more.

According to Deng Hao, regular exchanges and open conversations on the most complex issues of interaction will help Chinese scientists to soberly assess the situation in Central Asia and develop rational proposals for their leadership and government decision-makers.

April 29, 2023 a meeting was held with the President of the analytical center "Eurocontinent" (Belgium) Pierre Emmanuel Toma, who arrived in Uzbekistan as an observer for the Referendum on Constitutional Reform.

The participants discussed the issues of establishing cooperation between Eurocontinent, UWED and the Institute for Advanced International Studies in the implementation of research projects.

P.-E.Toma noted that in a short period of time, an important stage of transformations in political, social and economic life took place in Uzbekistan and the standard of living of the population has noticeably increased. As a result of the meeting, it was decided to develop practical proposals on all the issues discussed and coordinate them through the appropriate channels.

The meeting was attended by: from UWED - vice-rector G. Ismailova, from the Institute for Advanced International Studies (IAIS) - deputy director A. Umarov, head of the centers for European studies R. Kayumov and energy geopolitics N. Mukhammadkulova, an employee of the Center for Afghanistan and South Asian Studies H. Boltaev.

April 29, 2023 a meeting was held with the Director of Science of the Center for Central Asia of the Budapest University named after Matvey Korvin M. Kraznay, who arrived in Uzbekistan as an observer for the Referendum on Constitutional Reform.

The participants discussed the issues of establishing a partnership of this Center with the UWED and the Institute for Advanced International Studies in the development and implementation of international research projects, including within the framework of the European Union's Erasmus + and Horizon programs.

M. Kraznay noted that since the last visit to Uzbekistan, rapid large-scale transformations have taken place in the country, covering all branches of government and such areas as state and social construction, the legal system, economic and social spheres.

The meeting was attended by: from UWED - vice-rector G. Ismailova, from the Institute for Advanced International Studies (IAIS) - deputy director A. Umarov, head of the centers for European studies R. Kayumov and energy geopolitics N. Mukhammadkulova, an employee of the Center for Afghanistan and South Asian Studies H. Boltaev.

At the University of World Economy and Diplomacy on May 15 this year. a meeting was held with a group of teachers and undergraduates from one of the oldest American schools of international relations - The Fletcher School at Tufts University in Medford.

First Deputy Chairman of the Senate of the Oliy Majlis, Rector of UWED Sodyk Safoev told the guests about the course of economic and political reforms in Uzbekistan, about the pace and dynamics of their development. The American guests noted with satisfaction the intensive transformations in the country, as evidenced by the successful holding of a referendum on the updated Constitution of Uzbekistan. According to their observations, significant changes have taken place in the country in recent years, progressive democratic reforms have been carried out, the results of which are visible in the progressive development of society. Uzbekistan demonstrates confidence in the transition to the next stage of socio-political and economic transformation.

On the same day, a round table was held between Fletcher School experts and researchers from the Institute for Advanced International Studies at the UWED. American experts gave an in-depth analysis of the prospects for American policy in Central Asia and its relations with Uzbekistan, the role of Russia and China in the region, the reasons for the failure of the United States in Afghanistan, and so on.

According to the director of the Russia and Eurasia program at the Fletcher School, Professor Daniel Drezner, when speaking about the prospects for American policy in Central Asia and, in particular, in relation to Uzbekistan, one should bear in mind that “regardless of the outcome of the US presidential election in 2024 and other attendant factors, US attention to the region will not decrease, but rather even increase.

On May 2, 2023, a meeting was held at the University of World Economy and Diplomacy with Ryota Saito, a researcher at the Japanese Sasakawa Peace Foundation, who came as an observer to the referendum on constitutional reforms in Uzbekistan.

The Sasakawa Foundation and UWED and IAIS jointly discussed the issues of launching research projects, scientific round tables and conferences.

During the meeting, A. Umarov presented the activities and goals of IAIS. At the same time, he proposed to jointly study the mutually beneficial relations of Central Asia with Japan and the issues of establishing security in Afghanistan. Emphasizing that it is beneficial for both parties to work in the Japan + CA format in cooperation with the research center, IAIS offered his candidacy to create a long-term program of action.

The meeting was attended by Deputy Director of the Institute for Advanced International Studies UWED A. Umarov, Head of the Department of Oriental Languages Sh. Gafurova and Researcher of the Asia-Pacific Research Center Abdurasulova Mehriniso.

May 2, 2023 a meeting was held with the director of the analytical center "European Neighborhood Council" Samuel Doveri Vesterbye, who arrived in Uzbekistan as an observer for the Referendum on Constitutional Reform.

During the meeting, a Memorandum of Cooperation and co-authorship was signed between UWED and this Center in order to implement joint projects - from publications to organizing practical events.

S. Vesterbye said that it is very important for the European Neighborhood Council to develop relations between the EU and Central Asia. In this regard, the Belgian Center is turning to public and private universities to sign an agreement and attracting students, scientists and teachers in order to increase knowledge about the great potential for interaction, both in the economic and political spheres, between Uzbekistan and European countries.

The first joint project with participation after the signing of the above-mentioned memorandum with UWED will be the Young Future Diplomats Fellowship Program in 2023. for training 5 Uzbek and 5 European young participants in Brussels.

The meeting was attended by: from UWED - vice-rector G. Ismailova, from the Institute for Advanced International Studies (IPMI) - deputy director A. Umarov and head of the Center for European Studies R. Kayumov.

May 1, 2023 a meeting was held with the President of the Institute for European Perspectives and Security E. Dupuis, who arrived in Uzbekistan as an observer for the Referendum on Constitutional Reform.

E. Dupuy said that he had repeatedly visited Uzbekistan and was amazed at the many external and structural changes both in the appearance of cities and public life in the country as a whole.



The meeting participants discussed the issues of establishing cooperation between this French analytical center and the UWED Institute for Advanced International Studies in the development and implementation of international research projects.

The meeting was attended by the Institute for Advanced International Studies (IAIS) - Deputy Director A. Umarov, Head of the Centers for European Studies R. Kayumov and Energy Geopolitics N. Muhammadkulova, leading researchers of the IAIS H. Boltaev and Sh. Bakhromova.

On April 24 this year, the delegation of the Kingdom of Spain visited the University of World Economy and Diplomacy.The Spanish delegation included representatives of the Ministry of Universities, the University of Huelva, the Pontifical University of Salamanca, the Polytechnic University of Madrid, the University of Valladolid, as well as the Spanish Embassy in Uzbekistan.

 

In turn, creating a system of educational exchange between the universities of the two countries, including through the financing of internships and the allocation of grants were discussed. Projects for the further development of the Spanish language at UWED, through the Jean Monnet and Erasmus + programs were underlined. The European side reported that in the near future students of the Diplomatic Academy at the UWED are going to have an internship at the Diplomatic Academy in Madrid.

In this regard parties expressed interest in diversifying cooperation and establishing partnerships with universities and research centers in Spain.

The meeting was attended by IAIS Deputy Director Akram Umarov and Head of the Center for European Studies IAIS Rustam Kayumov.

On April 14 the Institute for Advanced International Studies ( IAIS ) under the University of World Economy and Diplomacy ( UWED ) organized a "round table" focusing on "International Vector of the Constitutional Reform in Uzbekistan" .

The event was attended by heads of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, heads and senior staff of diplomatic missions and international organizations accredited in Uzbekistan, leading analytical and research centers, national media, faculty staff and students of UWED.

Presentations were made by IAIS researchers , as well as by the President of the Institute for Global Studies, Ambassador A. Sajanhar (India), director of the Institute for Security Policy and Development S. Cornell ( Sweden ), Executive Director of the Center for South Asia and International Studies M. Ul Hassan Khan (Pakistan), founder of the law firm Specht & Partner Rechtsanwalt GmbH L. Specht (Austria) and Professor of International Law at the Universities of Glasgow and Paris 1 (Sorbonne Panthéon) K. J. Thames.

In his welcoming speech, the First Deputy Chairman of the Senate of the Oliy Majlis, Rector of UWED S. Safoev pointed to the program milestones in the development of Uzbekistan, the specific features of the current stage of modernization and the paradigm of the country's development, which are reflected in the updated Constitution. He noted that current active and constructive foreign policy of Uzbekistan has turned our country into regional power through effective interaction in Central Asia, as well as the successful building of relations with the states of neighboring regions, such as South and Southeast Asia, the Middle East, participation in the activities of international structures .

The speakers expressed their confidence that the Constitutional reform can be seen as a new "social contract" that will have a serious impact on the countries of the region. Moreover, the growing trend towards building a security community will increasingly shape the regional subjectivity of Central Asia, similar to that observed in Europe.

Opinions were expressed that the constitutional reform in Uzbekistan would make the public - state model of the country a unique example of the synthesis of Muslim traditions, liberal democracy and secularism. It was also emphasized that current the global problems, which encompass climate change, depletion of water and other natural resources, are becoming a serious challenge and require the joint efforts of all mankind.