President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev met with United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres on the sidelines of the UN Conference on Landlocked Developing Countries.

The talks focused on key global and regional development issues, including preparations for the upcoming 80th anniversary session of the UN General Assembly.

In this context, the Uzbek leader expressed strong support for the Secretary-General’s initiatives aimed at ensuring international peace and stability, and reforming the UN and its core institutions to better align with modern realities.

Particular attention was given to expanding Uzbekistan’s multifaceted cooperation with the UN and implementing the agreements reached during Secretary-General Guterres’ visit to Uzbekistan in July last year.

It was noted with satisfaction that 160 joint programs and projects are currently being successfully implemented across the country.

Over the past few years, 13 resolutions of the UN General Assembly have been adopted at Uzbekistan’s initiative.

This year, the heads of key UN agencies and institutions, including UN-Habitat and UNICEF, have visited Uzbekistan. A representative office of UN Women was opened in Tashkent.

A joint forum on civil service was held, and preparations are underway for the 43rd session of the UNESCO General Conference, to be hosted in Samarkand.

Uzbekistan has been ranked among the top five countries in the Global Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) Index. A new five-year cooperation program with the UN is expected to be signed to support further progress towards the SDGs.

The sides also discussed ways to deepen regional integration in Central Asia and to involve Afghanistan in regional cooperation processes.

At the end of the meeting, both sides reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening practical cooperation and expanding joint programs and projects.