President of the Republic of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev addressed the 80th session of the United Nations General Assembly.
Dear Madam Chairperson!
Esteemed Mr. Secretary-General!
Heads of delegations!
Ladies and gentlemen!
I am pleased to welcome you to the 80th session of the United Nations General Assembly.
Today's meeting is taking place in the context of a rapidly changing complex global situation. This calls for a new approach to the activities of our Organization and its future.
Currently, the place and role of international institutions in the world are weakening, confrontations, conflicts, and wars are intensifying, technological and social inequality is sharply increasing, and economic and humanitarian crises are growing. All this creates a completely new, alarming geopolitical reality.
We highly appreciate the efforts of His Excellency, Secretary-General António Guterres, aimed at preserving our Organization as the main platform for a compromise solution to the most difficult and acute global problems.
In this regard, we fully support the UN - 80 initiatives and reaffirm our firm commitment to the Pact for the Future.
We advocate for the transformation and expansion of the UN Security Council to effectively combat modern challenges and protect the interests of developing countries.
Esteemed participants of the session!
In accordance with the Sustainable Development Goals, we are pursuing a policy of building a democratic, legal, social, and secular New Uzbekistan. For this, we are consistently continuing our irreversible reforms.
Our priority goal is to radically change the life of every family, every citizen living in our country, to enhance human dignity and well-being.
In recent years, we have managed to reduce the poverty rate in Uzbekistan from 35 to 6.6 percent. We are achieving this, first of all, through the transformation of the sphere of education and science, the creation of innovative industries and technological industrial enterprises, the modernization of "green" energy and transport infrastructure, the comprehensive development of small business and, as a result, the creation of millions of jobs.
Preschool education coverage in our country has increased from 27 to 78 percent, and the coverage of young people with higher education has increased from 9 to 42 percent. Most importantly, we consider the sharp increase in the prestige and authority of the teaching profession as a decisive issue.
In order to create a single international platform for the mutual exchange of experience and knowledge of teachers, we propose to hold the World Summit on Vocational Education in Uzbekistan.
We are also creating an advanced healthcare system in our country. Tomorrow, at the United Nations Headquarters, at our initiative, a high-level event will be held dedicated to the fight against childhood cancer and other serious diseases. We invite all our foreign partners to it.
Another important area is gender policy. We aim to further strengthen the role of women in the socio-political life of our country and in the sphere of entrepreneurship. We advocate for transforming the Asian Women's Forum into a permanent platform and holding it regularly on a regional scale.
I want to emphasize once again: we are committed to our commitments to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals. By 2030, we intend to join the ranks of countries with "income above average."
To this end, we will consistently continue our open and pragmatic policy.
Dear ladies and gentlemen!
Eight years ago, from this high rostrum, we declared our firm commitment to transforming Central Asia into a space of peace, good neighborliness, and partnership.
Today, with deep satisfaction, it can be said that we have achieved this strategic goal. The era of closed borders, unresolved disputes and conflicts remained in history.
In recent years, the volume of mutual trade, investments, and transportation in our region has increased fivefold. We are creating joint investment funds, trade and industrial zones in border areas, and implementing large infrastructure projects.
We recognize as our common achievement that the Consultative Meetings of the Heads of State of Central Asia have become an effective mechanism for deepening regional integration.
I can say with firm conviction that today the process of forming a New Central Asia has begun.
Our region, with its unity, stability, and uniqueness, occupies an increasingly firm place in the system of international relations as a separate entity.
To achieve our goals, we will focus on expanding mutually beneficial relations with all our foreign partners. In this regard, we propose to implement a number of new projects and programs in our region with the structures of the United Nations.
In particular, we will put forward initiatives to hold an international forum on the issues of economic development of the countries of Central Asia under the auspices of ECOSOC and UNCTAD, to create a regional hub for "green" technologies in industry with UNIDO, to adopt programs for the rational use of water resources, the creation of a "green" space in the region, and the achievement of demographic stability.
At the same time, we propose to adopt a resolution of the General Assembly to support the actions of the countries of Central Asia aimed at deepening regional partnership and economic integration.
Esteemed heads of delegations!
When speaking about global and regional security and sustainable development, of course, it is impossible not to mention Afghanistan.
It is necessary to unite the efforts of the international community to support the aspiration of the Afghan people for a peaceful and tranquil life. I would like to emphasize that it is extremely important not to allow this country to become isolated.
We intend to implement large economic and infrastructure projects in Afghanistan. We propose to adopt a separate resolution of our Organization on the development of international transport and energy corridors through this country.
The worsening humanitarian crisis in the Gaza Strip cannot be ignored. We call for the cessation of hostilities and the continuation of political negotiations. We are firmly committed to implementing the principle of "two states for two peoples" in accordance with UN resolutions.
The situation around Ukraine is also a serious concern for all of us. We welcome the start of high-level dialogue to resolve this issue through diplomatic channels.
Esteemed participants of the conference!
Effective work is being carried out in Central Asia to implement the Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy. A Regional Council on Rehabilitation and Reintegration has been established in cooperation with the UN Counter-Terrorism Office. We propose to transform it into a Center for International Competencies.
This structure will serve as an important platform for exchanging experience on the adaptation of persons returned from troubled areas to a peaceful life.
In addition, we are ready to create the necessary conditions for opening a regional office of the Anti-Terrorism Department in Uzbekistan.
Dear ladies and gentlemen!
In today's world full of threats, we are becoming increasingly convinced of the vulnerability of the global transport system. These problems, first of all, negatively affect the stability of developing countries without access to the sea.
Ensuring the security of international transit corridors and creating effective logistics chains is extremely important. In this regard, we believe it is time to introduce the global mechanism "Strengthening Transport Connectivity for the Sustainable Development Goals."
I would also like to address the increasingly acute problems of climate change. In particular, the negative consequences of the drying up of the Aral Sea should remain at the center of constant attention of the world community. We are consistently continuing work to restore the Aral Sea region's ecosystem.
In recent years, salt-tolerant desert plants have been planted on 2 million hectares of the dried seabed. By 2030, green cover will be created in 80 percent of this territory.
Another important problem is the shortage of water resources. Currently, more than two billion people in the world do not have access to clean drinking water.
We plan to hold a World Water Conservation Forum in our country. Based on the results of this conference, it is planned to identify the water crisis as a serious threat to sustainable development. In this regard, we intend to adopt a separate "roadmap" for the implementation of innovative technologies at the global level.
Another negative aspect of environmental change is the intensification of climate migration. Unfortunately, clear international mechanisms and a legal framework have not yet been created in this area. We advocate for the adoption of a Global Covenant on broad international partnership and a coordinated policy on this serious issue.
Esteemed participants of the meeting!
Preventing inequality between countries in digital development and the use of artificial intelligence is of paramount importance.
We propose the creation of an International Cooperation Mechanism aimed at the gratuitous exchange of practical solutions and models of artificial intelligence in the fields of healthcare, education, and culture.
I would like to dwell on another priority issue.
Our tomorrow, the fate and well-being of the world are in the hands of the younger generation. Our urgent task is to instill in the hearts and minds of our youth such noble ideas as peace, humanism and friendship, mutual trust and respect.
In this regard, we propose to establish the "World Youth Movement for Peace" and to locate its headquarters in Uzbekistan. We are consistently implementing a policy of tolerance in our society.
At the same time, we will actively continue our efforts to deeply study and promote the ideas of Islamic enlightenment throughout the world. In the coming months, we will open a unique Center of Islamic Civilization for our vast region.
We intend to hold a special presentation at the United Nations of the rich spiritual and scientific heritage of our great ancestors - thinkers Imam Bukhari, Imam Termizi, Imam Moturidi.
Dear ladies and gentlemen!
The New Uzbekistan supports mutual understanding, open dialogue, and close partnership with all countries. We are always ready to contribute to strengthening the dialogue between peoples, cultures, and civilizations, and to the achievement of universal goals.
Thank you for your attention.
