Akramjon Nematov: Central Asia demonstrates a model of cooperation in demand amidst global turbulence

Akramjon Nematov: Central Asia demonstrates a model of cooperation in demand amidst global turbulence

From September 28 to October 1, 2026, the XXIII Annual Meeting of the Valdai International Discussion Club was held in Istra, near Moscow, on the theme "Responsibility for the Future: Limits of the Possible or Possibilities Without Limits?". Akramjon Nematov, First Deputy Director of the Institute for Strategic and Regional Studies under the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan, participated in its work.

The forum brought together 120 participants from 40 countries. In addition to Russian experts, the meeting was attended by representatives from China, India, Iran, Pakistan, Turkey, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, as well as countries of Europe, North and South America, Africa, and Southeast Asia.

The agenda of the meeting covered a wide range of issues of contemporary global development. At the opening, the Club's annual report "No Panic: The State and Responsibility for the Future" was presented.

Within the framework of the meeting, participants held meetings with the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation S.V. Lavrov and the Deputy Chief of the Russian Presidential Administration M.S. Oreshkin. The event concluded with a separate plenary session featuring the President of the Russian Federation V.V. Putin.

One of the key themes of the discussions was the profound transformation of the global system, driven by several interconnected processes simultaneously. On the one hand, rapid technological development, digitalization, and artificial intelligence are changing the economy, the labor market, the security system, and the very structure of societies. On the other hand, climate change, demographic shifts, migration, and pandemic risks are shaping new long-term challenges, the consequences of which extend far beyond national borders.

Against this background, the emergence of a more complex polycentric and multipolar world order is accelerating. New centers of economic and political development are appearing, the role of Asia, Africa, and other regions is strengthening, and alongside major powers, stable and interconnected regional spaces capable of shaping their own agenda and building a broad network of external relations are acquiring increasing importance. These processes are accompanied by growing competition and uncertainty, but at the same time, they open up new opportunities for states and regions.

In the context of such a combination of multiple crises and new opportunities, the responsibility of states, respect for sovereignty and national interests, strengthening of trust, and the search for mutually acceptable solutions acquire special significance. Participants emphasized that the response to the growing complexity of the world should not be isolation and uncontrolled rivalry, but dialogue, cooperation, and the ability to reach agreements despite differences.

In this regard, the need to adapt international institutions to the changed balance of power and the growing diversity of the world, to increase their representativeness, and to more fully take into account the interests of new centers of development was noted. At the same time, technological, climate, demographic, and other transboundary challenges confirm that even in conditions of intensifying competition, sustainable development and global stability require joint solutions.

Of particular interest was the session "What Sun Will Rise in the East? A Portrait of a World Centered on Asia." During the discussion, the ongoing shift of economic activity toward the broader Asian space was noted. The space of the Pacific and Indian Oceans was viewed as one of the main engines of global economic development and one of the key arenas of processes that will determine international dynamics in the coming decades.

At the same time, the discussion was not about the emergence of a single new center of power in Asia, but about the formation of a complex network of interconnected centers of growth, trade, technology, and transport connectivity. In such a space, states and regions capable of connecting different parts of the continent and creating conditions for interaction between them acquire special importance.

In this connection, the growing importance of Central Asia was noted. It was emphasized that in recent years, the region has undergone a significant internal transformation. The period when its development was largely determined by unresolved border issues, limited connectivity, and a lack of mutual trust is being replaced by a stage of joint development, expansion of economic cooperation, and the formation of sustainable regional connectivity.

Commenting on the results of the meeting, A. Nematov noted: "Against the background of the changes taking place in the world, Central Asia is demonstrating a fundamentally new dynamic. The era when the region was primarily associated with contradictions and unresolved issues is left behind. Today, a space of joint development is being formed, in which mutual trust is growing, economic ties are expanding, and more and more common projects and long-term interests are emerging."

The ISRS representative emphasized that Central Asia is gradually occupying a more prominent place in the emerging Asian space. "Geographically, our region is at the center of the most important routes connecting East and South Asia, Europe, Russia, the Caucasus, and the Middle East. But today, the importance of Central Asia is no longer determined solely by its location. Growing internal connectivity allows the region to act with increasing confidence as one of the important hubs of Eurasia – a space through which transport corridors, trade flows, energy, investment, and humanitarian ties can pass."

According to A. Nematov, it is precisely in the conditions of global turbulence that the experience of recent years acquires broader significance. "The emerging polycentric world will objectively consist not only of major powers. An increasingly important role will be played by stable regions capable of independently determining their priorities, reaching agreements internally, and simultaneously building a broad system of external relations. Today, Central Asia demonstrates precisely such a model – not through confrontation with anyone, but through strengthening its own connectivity, searching for mutually acceptable compromises, and turning common interests into concrete projects."

According to him, this is also one of the characteristic features of the new stage of regional development: "Today, cooperation in Central Asia already has its own internal dynamics. The resolution of the complex issues of recent years has shown the ability of the region's states to find mutually acceptable solutions based on long-term interests. As a result, Central Asia is turning from a space that was often viewed primarily through the prism of risks and contradictions into a space of opportunities and joint development."

A. Nematov noted that for Uzbekistan, the ongoing processes are of particular importance. The consistent course of the President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev toward strengthening good-neighborliness, mutual trust, and economic connectivity contributes not only to the development of bilateral relations but also to raising the agency of the entire Central Asia.