Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) -- Digital technologies are key drivers of economic development. This was highlighted during a video conference on the topic: "Development of the digital economy and e-commerce within the SCO during the COVID-19 pandemic."

It was organized by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Uzbekistan and the Secretariat of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization.

The event was attended by SCO Secretary General V. Norov, First Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Uzbekistan F. Arziev, Deputy Minister for Development of Innovation A. Nazarov, Vice President of the Chinese Center for Electronic Commerce under the Ministry of Commerce of the PRC Hu Yang, Director of the International Department "Alibaba Group” Luo Lin and senior manager of the company for global initiatives Dream Louis, as well as representatives of the Ministry for the Development of Information Technology and Communications, the Chamber of Commerce and Industry and the SCO Youth Science Network.

A wide range of issues related to the implementation of digital technologies and e-commerce models were discussed at the videoconference. As noted by the participants, the crisis caused by the COVID-19 pandemic leads to an even more active development of industries based on digital technologies and innovative solutions.

In his speech, First Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Uzbekistan F. Arziev emphasized the priority importance of the digital agenda in the economic development strategy of Uzbekistan. It was especially noted that the Government of Uzbekistan gives priority to education, digitalization and innovation as key triggers of the country’s sustainable development strategy. He also added the importance of expanding international cooperation in the implementation of key tasks of the digital and innovative development of the republic, including using the capabilities of the SCO.

For their part, Chinese companies have shown interest in expanding interaction with Uzbek partners on digital development issues. Representatives of the China Center for E-Commerce and the Alibaba Group, one of the world’s leaders in Internet commerce, expressed their readiness to visit Uzbekistan to study and discuss the possibilities of specific project cooperation in this area.

The videoconference participants also noted the importance of joining the efforts of the member states of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization to develop their own "digital agenda" of the Organization and expressed the hope that these issues will become a priority in its future activities.