The joint virtual session between the Iranian Institute for Political and International Studies(IPIS) and the Institute for Strategic and Regional Studies (ISRS) of Uzbekistan about the regional and international issues was held on Wednesday, February 24, 2021.

The session was attended by Dr.Mohammad KazemSajjadpour, Deputy Minister of MOFA & President of IPIS; Mr.Majid Ghafelebashi, Research Deputy at the Center; Gholamhosein Yadegari, President of Department for Bilateral relations in Foreign Ministry; Bahman Agharazi and Aliakbar Jokar, Top Experts at IPIS; and Hassan Ahmadian, professor at University of Tehran; on one side

and,

Eldor Aripov, President of ISRS; Bakhtiar Mustafaev, Umid Abidkhojaev, Senior Researchers at ISRS, on the other side.

The session was held in the form of two panels, “Bilateral Relations’ Developments”, and “Examining Latest Developments in Central Asia and the Eurasian Union”, to answer the following questions, (1) What are the ways for strengthening exchange of the two countries’ experiences for removing barriers and achieving goals of mutual economic cooperation? (2) What are the main factors in convergence and divergence among Central Asian countries? (3) How important is sharing experiences among the Eurasian Union members?

Here are the most important issues touched upon at the session:

• Iran and Uzbekistan have always enjoyed vast relations in various areas, and cooperation between them is still continuing. Also formal meetings and talks between presidents of the two countries have been monumentally influential in promoting relations, especially in terms of economic cooperation; in a way that trade flow between the two countries has experienced substantial growth in recent years.
• Iran and Uzbekistan’s cooperation in transport and transit of goods is one of the priorities for cooperation. At present, a range of ideas and offers are being studied for expanding land, railway and aerial transport between the two countries. The pandemic period showed that expanding grounds for connection between the two countries can be the most essential factor for broadening ties between the two countries.
• Uzbekistan’s top foreign policy priority during recent period has been based on expanding constructive cooperation based on mutual interests of the neighbors. Therefore, Iran and Uzbekistan, as two close neighbors, can broaden their relations in various political, economic and cultural areas, because expanding ties substantially boosts peace and stability in the region.
• Central Asia is facing serious challenges on various fronts such as spread of terrorism, extremism and presence of trans-regional powers; therefore, Iran’s collaboration with Central Asian countries within bilateral and multilateral frameworks, including the Shanghai Cooperation Organization or the Eurasian Economic Union can make good grounds for economic expansion and solidifying peace and stability in the region.