From September 21 to 27, a delegation from the University of World Economy and Diplomacy and the Institute for Advanced International Studies paid a working visit to Hungary as part of a joint project with the Nippon Foundation entitled “Energy Security and Regional Cooperation in Central Asia”. The host was the Ludovika University of Public Service in Budapest. The delegation included the First Vice-Rector of UWED and Director of IAIS Dr. Akram Umarov; member of the Legislative Chamber of the Oliy Majlis and associate professor at UWED Dr. Umid Yakubkhodjaev; representative of the UZATOM Agency Otabek Amanov, Head of the Center for Energy Diplomacy and Geopolitics at IAIS Khayotjon Ibragimov, as well as Leading Research Fellows Mekhriniso Abdurasulova and Jakhongir Soliev.
The program included meetings with relevant government agencies and energy companies in Hungary, such as MVM CEEnergy Zrt. and MVM Group. The Institute for Energy Strategy under the Ministry of Energy presented the country’s energy security strategy. Particular attention was paid to nuclear energy and regulatory approaches. At a meeting with the Hungarian Atomic Energy Authority, the parties exchanged experiences on the organization of independent supervision, regulatory support for nuclear and radiation safety, and requirements for the construction and commissioning of nuclear power plants. The visit to the Paks Nuclear Power Plant included a tour of the training center and familiarization with personnel training practices, which opens opportunities for educational programs and internships for Uzbek specialists.
An important part of the trip was establishing contacts with leading Hungarian think tanks – the Hungarian Institute for International Affairs, the Climate Policy Institute, and the Danube Institute. The meetings discussed Hungary’s foreign policy priorities in Eurasia, the climate agenda, and approaches to sustainable development. The Uzbek side presented the reforms being carried out in the republic in the field of environmental protection and energy, emphasizing its focus on practical international cooperation.
The IAIS delegation also took part in the opening ceremony of the Center for Turkic Studies at Ludovika University and thematic panel discussions on the prospects for cooperation in the fields of politics, economics, energy, trade, and transport. These platforms confirmed the growing interest of the expert community in deepening scientific exchanges and joint projects with Central Asia, including Uzbekistan.
Following the visit, the parties outlined areas for further work: developing expert dialogue on energy security and the green agenda, joint research on water resource management, water use efficiency, and irrigation system modernization, as well as expanding academic exchanges and professional development programs.
