Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) – On 25 January 2022, at the online summit of the states of Central Asia and China, the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev outlined a number of initiatives designed to strengthen and expand cooperation between the countries of our region and the People’s Republic of China.

The head of state called the joint promotion of the “climate” agenda and “environmentally friendly development” a topical area of interaction, which undoubtedly meets the interests of all participants in this format, given the growing negative consequences of global warming and the importance of mobilizing efforts to mitigate its consequences.

In this context, Shavkat Mirziyoyev put forward an initiative to develop a Roadmap for cooperation within the framework of the Green Silk Road, which is becoming one of the key areas of cooperation within the framework of the One Belt, One Road initiative.

In particular, he called for the document to include issues of attracting Chinese investments and technologies in the field of alternative energy, localization of components and equipment for solar and wind power plants, as well as training of specialized personnel.

The initiative voiced by the Leader of the country fully meets the interests of Uzbekistan, which in recent years has been making great efforts to develop alternative energy sources, considering this approach as the main factor in sustainable development.

Issues related to "green" development, as well as initiatives aimed at its practical implementation, are present at all Shavkat Mirziyoyev’s speeches, which once again emphasizes the relevance of this topic and the need for changes in all spheres of our life and economy, in particular.

Over the past five years, Uzbekistan has taken systematic measures to adapt and mitigate the effects of climate change, protect the environment and biodiversity. In particular, the Concept of Environmental Protection until 2030, the Strategy for the country’s transition to a "green" economy for the period 2019-2030, the Concept for the development of water management for 2020-2030 and others were adopted. 

The initiative to adopt a Roadmap for cooperation within the framework of the "Green Silk Road", taking into account the proposals of Uzbekistan, and its practical implementation will be an important contribution to the implementation of national tasks and activities for the transition to a "green" track, the fulfillment of obligations to implement the Paris Agreement on climate change each country of the region, with support and addition to the Green Agenda for Central Asia program being developed, the initiative of which was announced by the President of Uzbekistan in 2021 at the last Consultative meeting of the heads of state of the region in Turkmen Avaza.

Undoubtedly, the leading role of China in this is extremely important. The participation of this large and technologically advanced country in addressing the issues of "green" development of the Central Asian states will not only mitigate the effects of climate change, ensure the transition of the countries of the region to a new technological order and transform the economy, but also contribute to the sustainable and stable development of all of Central Asia.

Sherzod Fayziev, Head of Department of International Institute of Central Asia