Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) — On 15 August 2025, a scientific-practical conference titled “Practical Aspects of Forming Regional Identity in Central Asia” was held in Tashkent as part of the VIII Central Asian Expert Forum (CAEF).

The opening remarks were delivered by Akramjon Ne’matov, First Deputy Director of the Institute for Strategic and Interregional Studies under the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan (ISMI).

The expert emphasized that “regional cooperation is key to the development of states and the strengthening of Central Asia’s resilience. It forms the foundation of trust, security, and stability.”

At the same time, Ne’matov noted that “the situation surrounding Central Asia is becoming increasingly unpredictable. In an environment of growing geopolitical instability, the region faces a complex set of interconnected and increasingly intricate challenges, including climate risks, threats to food, water, and digital security, all of which can affect social stability.”

Against this backdrop, he stressed that “the issue of regional identity, which has been discussed for decades, is becoming ever more relevant. Central Asia faces a historic choice: either it develops a unified regional voice grounded in shared heritage and a common system of values, or it remains a fragmented participant in global processes, lacking a collective vision.”

Ne’matov highlighted the importance of recognizing the common challenges the region faces. “The problems of our countries are interlinked—none of them can be solved in isolation. Therefore, the responsibility for Central Asia’s future is shared,” he asserted.

According to Ne’matov, “today there is a unique opportunity to strengthen mutual trust and solidarity based on an identity that not only unites us in the face of common challenges but also inspires the pursuit of shared goals. Central Asia must construct its own identity and guide it in the right direction. Otherwise, it will be shaped for us, but without regard to our interests.”

He expressed confidence that the new stage of regional cooperation provides a foundation for an identity that reflects not only the past but also serves as a blueprint for the future. He stressed that “it is necessary to continue expanding cooperation and deepening ties among our peoples.”

Expanding on this idea, Ne’matov noted that “regional identity today is no longer merely a subject of cultural reflection; it has acquired a fundamentally new dimension and can be said to have moved to the level of a strategic agenda—as a factor of resilience and regional autonomy. It is considered a tangible social, cultural, political, and, in many cases, economic resource.”

“We are witnessing how Central Asia’s identity is becoming a force capable of shaping a shared future. The formation, strengthening, and understanding of regional identity is not simply a matter of self-awareness; it is a question of our future and our agency,” the expert concluded.

“For me, the future of Central Asia is a region where its residents feel part of a unified community, where a young person from Kazakhstan can study in Kyrgyzstan, build a career in Tajikistan, start a business in Turkmenistan, and spend a vacation in Uzbekistan. This is how I envision Central Asia in the future,” he summarized.

During his presentation, Ne’matov also introduced proposals for the draft Concept of Formation and Strengthening of Regional Identity in Central Asia. It was noted that over forty leading experts, historians, sociologists, and political scientists from Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Turkmenistan contributed to the project.

According to the ISMI deputy director, the participation of foreign scholars and experts will allow a deeper understanding of key challenges and help form a comprehensive view of developments. “It is precisely the diversity of approaches that creates the intellectual environment in which the most accurate solutions emerge. The document will serve as a starting point for joint work on developing concrete ideas and initiatives,” he concluded.

It should be recalled that ISMI organizes the CAEF. The forum’s partners include the Regional Center for Preventive Diplomacy in Central Asia, the European Union Delegation to Uzbekistan, the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE), and the Konrad Adenauer Foundation.

Central Asia is traditionally represented at the forum by leaders and specialists from strategic institutions, research centers, and academic circles of the region’s countries.

For the first time, prominent experts from EU countries, ASEAN, the Nordic Council, as well as researchers from Russia, the United States, the United Kingdom, Switzerland, and Azerbaijan, were invited to participate in order to exchange experience in regional studies.