Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) — On the sidelines of the UN Conference on Landlocked Developing Countries, President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev met with UN Secretary-General António Guterres.

The parties discussed pressing issues of global and regional development, including preparations for the upcoming 80th anniversary session of the UN General Assembly. President Mirziyoyev reaffirmed his strong support for the Secretary-General’s initiatives aimed at strengthening international peace and stability, as well as reforming the UN and its key institutions in line with modern challenges.

Special attention was given to expanding Uzbekistan’s comprehensive cooperation with the UN and implementing agreements reached during António Guterres’ visit to Uzbekistan in July of last year. It was noted that 160 joint programs and projects are currently underway. In recent years, the UN General Assembly has adopted 13 resolutions initiated by Uzbekistan.

This year, Uzbekistan has hosted the heads of several leading UN agencies, including UN-Habitat and UNICEF. A new UN Women office was opened in Tashkent, and a Forum on Public Service was held. Preparations are also underway for the 43rd session of the UNESCO General Conference, set to take place in Samarkand.

It was emphasized that Uzbekistan has ranked among the world’s top five most progressive countries in the Global Sustainable Development Goals Index. In the near future, a new five-year cooperation program with the UN will be signed as part of the SDG implementation.

The talks also addressed the deepening of regional integration in Central Asia and the inclusion of Afghanistan in processes of peaceful cooperation. Following the meeting, both sides confirmed their commitment to further strengthening practical cooperation and expanding joint projects.