27.01.2022

Distinguished Mr. Narendra Modi!

Dear colleagues!

 

I sincerely welcome all the participants of the First India – Central Asia Summit.

I am grateful to You, Mr. Prime Minister Modi, for taking the initiative to hold this landmark meeting aimed at strengthening the multifaceted relations between our countries based on strong friendship, mutual respect and trust.

I join the warm words and wishes of my colleagues to the Indian people on the occasion of the Day of the Republic of India (January 26). I would like also to express my sincere congratulations to You on the forthcoming 75th anniversary of the Independence of the country.

Today, India is a modern, dynamically developing state with great international authority and growing economic influence in the world.

I would particularly like to emphasize that India is a reliable strategic partner for us.

The Uzbek-Indian ties have deep historical roots.

For millennia, our peoples have been engaged in intensive humanitarian exchanges and trade relations. This process contributed to a mutual enrichment of cultures, traditions and spiritual values.

Such ancient cities as Tashkent and Delhi, Samarkand and Agra, Bukhara and Hyderabad are part of a unique heritage and left a big mark on our common history.

Building on this heritage, Uzbekistan is strongly committed to further developing the strategic partnership and practical interaction in the India-Central Asia format.

I am confident that today we shall be able to develop a new agenda for our multilateral relationships and define specific areas for productive cooperation for a long-term perspective.

 

Distinguished summit participants!

 

In order to further strengthen the traditionally close, friendly and multifaceted relations with India, we propose to identify the following areas of regional cooperation as strategic priorities.

The first priority – Development of human capital through active engagement in education and healthcare based on the large-scale implementation of India’s best practices, knowledge and technologies.

In recent years, a number of modern multidisciplinary health centers have been created in our country jointly with Indian partners.

Further expansion of the activities of such clinics is going to be organized in Uzbekistan at the branches of the leading medical universities of India.

To deepen further cooperation with India in the sphere of healthcare, we consider it important to promote the joint projects for the production of pharmaceuticals, speed up the mutual recognition of vaccination certificates, launch the training programs for virologists, widely introduce the methods of traditional medicine based on the Ayurveda philosophy and treatises of Ibn Sina, which will complement the achievements of modern healthcare.

For the systematic implementation of these initiatives, we propose to hold the annual «India-Central Asia» Healthcare Forum.

I would like to take this opportunity to express my sincere gratitude to the Indian side for the assistance rendered in overcoming the consequences of the pandemic.

We are pleased to note the productive partnership in the field of education. Today, there are three leading Indian universities in Uzbekistan, educating about four thousand students.

In addition, the Indian companies have started investing in the creation of international schools in our country under the «IB» program. The Indian method of language teaching is being introduced.

In order to further enhance the cooperation in the field of education, we propose to develop a «road map» focused on opening of branches of higher educational institutions and vocational training centers, establishment of scientific and academic exchanges, support of innovative developments and start-ups.

Broad prospects for us are opened by partnership in the sphere of information technologies. As one of the global leaders of digitalization, India is making a major contribution to the development of our IT industry.

Our near-term joint plans include exporting software products and services to the markets of third countries, including business process outsourcing.

In order to develop a regional cooperation in the IT field, we propose to develop an action program in such areas as: introduction of digital innovations, FinTech and blockchain-technologies, ensuring cyber security, training of specialists.

For the practical implementation of this initiative, we stand ready to use the platform of the Jawaharlal Nehru Indian-Uzbek Center for Information Technology.

The second most strategic priority of our interaction is the further development of trade and economic relations.

Over the past five years, the trade turnover between Uzbekistan and India has increased, almost doubled, the number of joint ventures increased to four hundred.

Major projects are being implemented in the field of industry, infrastructure and construction. The cooperation between the Andijan Region and the state of Gujarat is successfully developing.

In order to encourage the direct contacts at the level of business and regions of our countries, we propose to attach a new dynamics of activity of the «India - Central Asia» Business Council.

The Council must actively promote the long-term partnerships between our entrepreneurs to identify the new growth points in investment and trade based on complementarity.

Along with this, the lack of direct land transport links between India and Central Asia remains a deterrent to the dynamic development of our economic relations.

In this regard, we have started to develop a new corridor through the port of Chabahar. This port can and must become a key link in the delivery of goods between our countries in the framework of the North-South initiative.

We support the proposal of the Indian side to launch the format of meetings of the Ministers of Transport of our countries.

It is important to ensure the concrete substance and practical effectiveness of this mechanism.

We propose to include development of the Dry Ports Network Development Program, provision of back-to-back discounts and preferential tariffs for cargo transportation, simplification of customs clearance procedures in the agenda of their first meeting.

We pay a considerable attention to the issues of energy efficiency and «green» development. In this respect, the existing successful experience and technologies of India are of great interest to us.

We intend to join the International Solar Alliance, created on the initiative of the distinguished Prime Minister of India.

We propose to discuss in detail the issues of regional cooperation in the field of «green» energy during the International forum, which will be held under the auspices of the United Nations in September this year in the Aral Sea region.

The third priority is cooperation in the cultural and humanitarian sphere.

With a view to preserving our common heritage for future generations, we suggest developing a joint program of activities that provides cooperation of museums, organization of exhibitions and conferences, including in online format, digitalization of manuscript collections and creation of a cooperative virtual library, exploring the common historical and archaeological heritage.

In the 30th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations with India we also propose to hold an «Indian Film Week» and Festival of Indian Culture in the Central Asian countries.

 

Distinguished summit participants!

 

The difficult situation in Afghanistan remains in the focus of our common attention.

It is vital not to allow the humanitarian crisis to worsen, but rather to establish stability and security in this country.    

This will open up the new opportunities for implementing important infrastructure projects that will contribute to ensuring peace in Afghanistan and strengthening connectivity between Central Asia and India.

 

Dear colleagues!

 

I am confident that the implementation of the key proposals and initiatives, that have been made today, shall lay a solid foundation for further strengthening of the multilateral partnerships of our countries in the of «India- Central Asia» format.

In this context, we endorse the final Delhi Declaration.

I would like to conclude by once again expressing my sincere gratitude to Mr. Prime Minister Modi for hosting the Summit.

I wish all the participants success and prosperity.

        

Thank You for your attention!

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