Mirziyoyev meets with UN Secretary-General Guterres

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Mirziyoyev proposes global agreement for landlocked countries

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Mirziyoyev awarded in Turkmenistan (video)

On August 5, within the framework of the UN Conference on Landlocked Developing Countries, President of the Republic of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev met with UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres in Turkmenistan. The meeting was reported by the Presidential Press Service.

During the talks, urgent issues of global and regional development were discussed, including preparations for the upcoming 80th anniversary session of the UN General Assembly. In this context, the President of Uzbekistan expressed strong support for the Secretary-General's initiatives to ensure international peace and stability, and to reform the UN and its key institutions to better reflect current global realities.

Particular attention was given to the further expansion of multilateral cooperation between Uzbekistan and the UN, as well as the implementation of agreements reached during Guterres’ visit to Uzbekistan in July last year. It was noted with satisfaction that 160 joint programs and projects are currently being successfully implemented.

In recent years, 13 resolutions of the UN General Assembly have been adopted at Uzbekistan’s initiative. In 2024 alone, heads of several UN institutions, including UN-Habitat and UNICEF, visited Uzbekistan. A UN Women office was also opened in Tashkent, and a joint forum on civil service reform was held. Preparations are actively underway in Samarkand for the 43rd session of the UNESCO General Conference.

Uzbekistan now ranks among the top five most advanced countries on the Global Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) Index. A new five-year cooperation program with the UN on achieving the SDGs is expected to be signed.

The sides also discussed deepening regional integration in Central Asia and promoting Afghanistan’s inclusion in regional cooperation processes. At the conclusion of the meeting, both parties reaffirmed their commitment to developing practical cooperation and expanding joint initiatives.

Landlocked developing countries face significant barriers in participating in global trade and accessing international transportation networks, which impedes their economic development. There are 32 such countries worldwide, including Armenia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Bolivia, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Moldova, Chad, and others. As a landlocked nation, Uzbekistan must cross the territory of at least two other states to reach the nearest seaport. This situation highlights the urgent need to diversify transport corridors.

In this regard, the Third UN Conference on Landlocked Developing Countries presents important opportunities for building partnerships and unlocking the potential of these nations. The first two conferences were held in Almaty (2009) and Vienna (2014), respectively.

Uzbekistan views cooperation with the United Nations as a central priority of its foreign policy. Key focus areas include sustainable development, maintaining peace and security, and protecting human rights.

In recent years, Uzbekistan’s cooperation with the UN has reached a qualitatively new level. The frequency and depth of high-level contacts serve as clear evidence of this. UN Secretary-General Guterres has visited Uzbekistan twice — in 2017 and 2024. During his most recent visit, he was awarded Uzbekistan’s highest state decoration, the Order of “Friendship,” for his efforts to promote global solidarity, strengthen the UN’s role, and enhance cooperation with Uzbekistan.

President Mirziyoyev has participated in multiple high-level events, including the general debates of the 72nd and 78th sessions of the UN General Assembly (held in 2017 and 2023, respectively) and the Second Belt and Road Forum (Beijing, April 2019). He has delivered speeches at the 72nd, 75th, 76th, and 78th sessions of the General Assembly, as well as at the High-Level Segment of the 46th session of the UN Human Rights Council.

Uzbekistan has become an active participant in nearly all areas of the UN’s work. Within a relatively short period, 13 resolutions initiated by Uzbekistan have been adopted by the UN General Assembly. These include:

•  “Strengthening regional international cooperation to ensure peace, stability and sustainable development in the Central Asian region” (June 2018)
•  “Enlightenment and religious tolerance” (December 2018)
•  “Declaring the Aral Sea region a zone of ecological innovation and technologies” (May 2021)
•  “Strengthening the interconnection between Central and South Asia” (July 2022)
•  “International Day of Dialogue among Civilizations” (June 2024), among others.

These resolutions address some of the most pressing global challenges, such as environmental protection, regional connectivity, and education. Their adoption reflects the growing recognition and support for Uzbekistan’s foreign policy in the international arena.

Despite ongoing challenges, the UN remains the world’s only truly universal international organization charged with maintaining peace and security. Uzbekistan’s active engagement with the UN is firmly aimed at contributing to these global objectives.

Moreover, Uzbekistan’s growing role in the UN reflects the country's increasingly proactive foreign policy. The country has demonstrated consistent commitment to tackling issues such as climate change, human rights protection, and particularly the rights of women and children.