On 21–22 May, Dr Akram Umarov, First Vice-Rector for Academic Affairs at the University of World Economy and Diplomacy (UWED) and Director of the Institute for Advanced International Studies (IAIS), took part in the prestigious Asian Leadership Conference (ALC), held in Seoul, and organized by The Chosun Ilbo — South Korea’s most influential national daily newspaper.

 

Now in its latest edition, the Asian Leadership Conference has grown into Korea’s foremost international forum, convening world-renowned political figures, global business leaders, and leading academics to debate the critical global challenges of our time. With a theme of “The Rise of Nations: Pathways to Great Prosperity”, the 2025 ALC examined transformative national strategies across regions, highlighting innovation, resilience, and geopolitical realignment in an era of heightened global uncertainty.

 

Dr Umarov was invited as a keynote speaker on the panel “Central Asia at the Crossroads: Geopolitics, Connectivity, and Regional Dynamics”. This timely session explored Central Asia’s evolving role as a pivotal bridge between East and West amid mounting geopolitical shifts and the reconfiguration of global supply chains.

 

In his keynote address, Dr Umarov provided a compelling analysis of the region’s accelerating regional cooperation, placing particular emphasis on Uzbekistan’s pivotal role in reshaping the regional order. He traced the turning point to the political transformation in Uzbekistan in 2016, which ushered in a new era of constructive diplomacy and de-securitized relations with neighboring states. He further underscored the strategic value of Uzbekistan’s pragmatic approach toward Afghanistan, which has opened opportunities for connectivity and peacebuilding beyond conventional alliances.

 

Highlighting infrastructure as a cornerstone of regional strategy, Dr Umarov elaborated on initiatives to develop reliable multi-directional transport corridors — linking Central Asia to South Asia, the South Caucasus, and Europe. These efforts, he argued, are positioning the region not only as a geopolitical fulcrum but as an emerging hub of economic integration and sustainable development.

 

The panel concluded with a dynamic exchange during the discussion session, where Dr Umarov and fellow experts engaged in in-depth discussions on specific challenges and the prospects for deeper regional integration in the face of global uncertainty.

 

Dr Umarov’s participation in ALC 2025 underscored Uzbekistan’s growing voice in global dialogues and reaffirmed IAIS’s commitment to contributing to the international policy discourse on Central Asia’s transformation and future trajectory.

 

* The Institute for Advanced International Studies (IAIS) does not take institutional positions on any issues; the views represented herein are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the IAIS.