Uzbekistan Hosts Int'l Forum on Global Cooperation

On June 23-24, 2021, the International Forum “Inter-Parliamentary Global Cooperation in Implementation of Sustainable Development Goals” was held in Bukhara, Uzbekistan.

The forum was attended by the Secretary-General of the Inter-Parliamentary Union Martin Chungong, President of the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly Peter Lord Bowness, Secretary-General of the Parliamentary Assembly of Turkic-speaking Countries Altinbek Mamayusupov, heads and members of parliaments of foreign countries, inter-parliamentary organizations, representatives of Youth Parliaments, state bodies, international organizations, NGOs, mass media, and experts from research institutes.

During the two days, participants discussed achieved results, existing problems, tasks for the future. Achieving global development goals is vital. Over the past five years, this has become one of the priority areas for the reforms in Uzbekistan.

In particular, the National Goals and Objectives in the field of sustainable development for the period up to 2030 were approved.

As a result, over the past period, Uzbekistan has adopted strategies and concepts that determine the prospects for the development of socio-economic sectors for the next 5-10 years.

The Bukhara forum participants discussed relevant issues in group sessions. Participants of the 1st session elaborated on the significant role of the parliament in ensuring the effective implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

The First Deputy Chairman of the Senate of the Oliy Majlis Sodik Safoyev and the UN Resident Coordinator in Uzbekistan Helena Fraser moderated the session. Participants of the session reviewed issues of ending hunger, achieving increased food security and nutrition, promoting sustainable agriculture.

Achieving food security for all is at the heart of FAOs efforts to make sure people have regular access to enough high-quality food to lead active, healthy lives. FAO experts highlighted the work being carried out in this area in Uzbekistan.

Within the framework of the 1st session of the forum, experts exchanged views on food security issues and their importance in achieving SDGs.

"By involving parliament in the important process of achieving the SDGs, all of humanity should contribute to and benefit from global development", noted Rachmat Gobel, Vice Speaker of the House of Representatives of the Republic of Indonesia, adding that "The SDGs will not be achieved only through the economic growth.

It also requires the economy to create fair opportunities for all. This is the basic principle of an inclusive economy".

The session participants also discussed the role of parliament to achieve sustainable development in the transition to a green economy.

At the same time, it was noted that the development of a green economy in the context of reducing negative consequences of the Aral Sea crisis and socio-economic and environmental rehabilitation of the Aral Sea region is of current importance not only for Uzbekistan but also for the whole Central Asian region.

Experts noted that transition to a green economy will also contribute to the development of producing environmentally friendly agricultural products.

At the final session, Chairperson of the Senate of the Oliy Majlis of the Republic of Uzbekistan Tanzila Narbaeva emphasized the extreme importance of global inter-parliamentary cooperation in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals.

Parliamentarians and foreign experts supported the proposal of the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev to adopt a special resolution of the UN General Assembly aimed at further enhancing the role of parliaments in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals, strengthening the effectiveness of parliamentary control, and ensuring human rights.

During the event, it was proposed to hold a global forum every two years to discuss the achievements, regional and global challenges, as well as the adoption of joint programs aimed at specific results.

At the final session, the head of the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) in Uzbekistan Munir Mamadzada also stressed that global inter-parliamentary cooperation was the first step towards achieving the Sustainable Development Goals, and focused on the results of the forum.

The head of the UN-HABITAT Regional Office in the Arab States of the Gulf Amira al-Hassan noted that the topic of the forum assumes broad expert involvement, as well as a productive exchange of experience. She expressed her confidence that this forum was an important event on the way to the common goals of sustainable development in the world.