On 5 June, the Institute for Advanced International Studies (IAIS) at the University of World Economy and Diplomacy held a student panel titled “Beyond Borders: Youth Perspectives on Regional Connectivity and Cooperation in Central and South Asia” as part of the Termez Dialogue in partnership with the Institute for Strategic and Regional Studies under the President of Republic of Uzbekistan and Georgetown University in Qatar. The session brought together young voices from across Central and South Asia to discuss how regional cooperation is experienced by students in practice.

The panel focused on the human dimension of regional connectivity, addressing issues such as education and academic mobility, labour migration, brain drain, economic integration, climate and water challenges, gender inclusion, and the role of external actors in shaping regional development. Participants underlined that cooperation between Central and South Asia is not only a matter of diplomacy and infrastructure, but also of people-to-people ties, educational exchange, and shared social realities.

The discussion featured student speakers from Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan and Turkmenistan, with moderation by Maryam Daud from Pakistan. The hybrid format allowed both in-person and online participation, creating a broader platform for exchange among students, researchers and participants of the Termez Dialogue. The session highlighted the importance of treating students not as symbolic participants, but as serious contributors to debates on the future of connectivity, development and cooperation across Central and South Asia.