New York – September 24, 2024
A bilateral meeting took place between His Excellency Bakhtiyor Saidov, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Uzbekistan and Dr. Asad Majeed Khan, Secretary General of the Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO), on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in New York.
During the meeting, Foreign Minister Saidov congratulated Dr. Khan on his appointment as ECO Secretary General and recalled the 2023 ECO Summit in Tashkent, which endorsed several key proposals from H.E. President Shavkat Mirziyoyev. These proposals focused on regional initiatives concerning the environment, climate change and transport corridors. In this context, the Foreign Minister outlined Uzbekistan’s priorities in these sectors.
Secretary General Khan commended Uzbekistan for its active role in fostering regional cooperation, particularly the “ECO Strategic Objectives – 2035,” proposed by President Mirziyoyev during the 16th ECO Summit in Tashkent. He also noted that Shahrisabz had been designated the ECO Tourism Capital for 2024 and assured continued collaboration with local authorities to promote the city throughout the year.
The discussion further emphasized regional connectivity, with Secretary General Khan highlighting Uzbekistan’s strategic position as a key player in linking the landlocked region to the world. He also updated H.E. Saidov on the follow-up actions stemming from the 12th ECO Ministerial Meeting on Transport, hosted by Uzbekistan in 2023. Of particular importance is Uzbekistan’s proposal to establish an ECO Regional Air Hub in Samarkand, which remains a priority in the organization’s civil aviation cooperation efforts, he added.
