A question arises: can the SCO become the foundation for establishing peace, stability, and cooperation? Roza Otunboeva emphasizes that building trust between people requires working to strengthen mutual trust, as information about neighboring peoples is often limited.
In Roza Otunboeva's opinion, the SCO's humanitarian mission goes far beyond simply holding conferences, forums, or festivals. Trust does not arise solely around the negotiating table. The SCO unites not only states but also great civilizations, including Chinese, Indian, Islamic, Orthodox Christian, and Central Asian civilizations.
She asserts that lasting peace begins not with agreements between states, but with trust between the people themselves. Roza Otunboeva, a state and political figure from Kyrgyzstan, holds the position of head of the international public organization 'Roza Otunboeva Tashabbuslari' and previously served as the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Kyrgyz Republic, Ambassador to the USA and Canada, and Special Representative of the UN in Afghanistan, and also held presidential positions in the country from 2010–2011.
Mukhammadjon Obidov, a correspondent from Uzbekistan, met with Roza Otunboeva at an international forum in Bishkek dedicated to the 'Dialogue of Civilizations' on the occasion of the SCO's 25th anniversary. He asked for her views on the organization's activities and future tasks.
Otunboeva noted that the topic of 'Dialogue of Civilizations' is close to her both as someone who has spent many years dealing with international cooperation issues and as a participant in the early stages of the Shanghai Process, which began in the mid-1990s. At that time, the historical task was to teach states to trust each other and to form an atmosphere of trust among the five countries united by signed borders.
Thanks to decades of active interaction, an environment of political trust, respect for sovereignty, and equal partnership has been created, despite initial mutual wariness. The Shanghai Cooperation Organization emerged on this foundation. Today, after 25 years of SCO development, a new stage is beginning. If the previous generation established a bridge of trust between states, the current generation must fulfill the historical mission of strengthening mutual trust between people and nations.
She notes that although we often speak of the dialogue of civilizations, civilizations do not communicate by themselves—people do. How well people know each other determines the nature of relations between countries twenty or thirty years later. In her opinion, we face an interesting paradox: in an era of open borders, digital technologies, and fast information, we know a lot about distant corners of the world, yet we know very little about our neighbors.
Otunboeva added that we are insufficiently informed about the history, literature, culture, and way of life of the peoples of the Eurasian space, and most importantly, about a common future. In fact, ignorance often becomes fertile ground for distrust, negative perceptions, and stereotypes. Therefore, in her conviction, the main task of the SCO today is to create conditions for people to get to know each other, rather than just organizing events like conferences or festivals.
There is a need to create broad opportunities for free communication, joint learning, scientific research, and creativity among schoolchildren, students, young scientists, and cultural figures. History teaches us that trust is formed not only at the negotiating table. It arises when children learn together, when friendships between students strengthen, when young scientists conduct joint research, when families visit each other, and when neighbors accept each other not as strangers, but as close people.
She expresses hope that the day will come when for the youth of any SCO member country, studying or conducting scientific research in a neighboring SCO member country will be as natural and simple as it is today, similar to how the desire to study in leading countries of the world is common practice.
Imagine if every school in an SCO member country established permanent contacts with partner schools in another SCO member country. If children communicated online, implemented joint educational and creative projects, studied each other's history, culture, and national holidays, and then the most active students could travel to neighboring countries for experience exchange, then the neighboring country would cease to be just a name on a map or an abstract concept; it would become a familiar, close place where friends live.
Otunboeva envisions a future where a young person twenty years later says: 'I was born in Bishkek. At school, I regularly corresponded with my friend from Xi'an. During my studies, I spent one semester in Delhi. I conducted scientific research in Kazan. I participated in a joint project in Tashkent. Today, my closest friends live in China, Pakistan, Iran, and other SCO countries. Therefore, I am not afraid of my neighbors because I understand them.'
Only then can it be said that the SCO's humanitarian mission has been fully realized. As an example, the Erasmus program is recognized as one of the most successful humanitarian initiatives of the European Union, allowing millions of young people to experience Europe through personal experience and deeply learn about the culture and values of other peoples.
The SCO possesses the potential to implement a unique humanitarian initiative that reflects its civilizational characteristics and cultural diversity. Given that the SCO is a unique space uniting great civilizations such as Chinese, Indian, Islamic, Orthodox, Christian, and Central Asian, the question arises: why not create an 'SCO Civilizations Scholarship Fund'?
This project should not merely be an academic exchange program. It should provide young people with the opportunity to deeply study the language, history, philosophy, literature, and traditions of a neighboring civilization, as well as actively participate in the life of its universities, scientific laboratories, and cultural institutions, directly interacting with the daily life of its people. Most importantly, they should return home not only with a diploma and scientific experience but also as people who understand and respect another culture, having become a bridge of trust.
Over the past twenty-five years, the SCO has proven itself to be a reliable platform for peace, security, stability, and multilateral cooperation. Now, the organization faces an even higher task—forming a space of mutual trust between peoples and individuals. After all, sustainable peace is ensured not only by agreements concluded between states; it begins with mutual trust, respect, and understanding formed in the hearts of people.
If the SCO countries can contribute to their peoples knowing each other better, understanding more deeply, and forming a solid foundation of trust, this will be the greatest and most sustainable contribution not only to today's but also to the future of all Eurasia.
The global economy is shaped by factors such as the consequences of the pandemic, geopolitical conflicts, high inflation, disruptions in international trade, and financial market instability. Under these conditions, the economic stability of each country primarily depends on the quality of its fiscal policy, budgetary discipline, and public finance management.
Uzbekistan is also entering a new stage of economic reforms. In recent years, large-scale transformations have been implemented aimed at liberalizing the economy, reducing state involvement, expanding the private sector, improving the tax system, and enhancing the investment climate.
A logical continuation of these processes is the Fiscal Strategy for 2027–2029, developed by the Ministry of Economy and Finance. This document is one of the key determinants of the country's medium-term economic development model. The strategy aims to ensure a balance between the state budget, public debt, tax policy, government expenditures, inflation, and economic growth. According to this strategy, Uzbekistan's economy is projected to grow by 8.1% in 2026, which is considered a high figure not only for Central Asia but also for many developing countries.
However, economic growth alone is insufficient. The question of what factors drive this growth is important. According to economic theory, GDP growth is achieved through four main sources: private consumption, government spending, investment, and net exports. In the case of Uzbekistan, investments have been the main driver of economic growth in recent years. Investments in large energy projects, transport infrastructure, industrial zones, metallurgy, chemistry, and renewable energy support economic development. Furthermore, domestic consumption stimulates the economy through rising household incomes.
Economists pay attention not only to the overall volume of growth but also to the sectors from which it originates. Special attention is given to growth driven by construction, the service sector, and high-productivity manufacturing. The third direction is considered the most effective for sustainable economic progress. The strategy places a strong emphasis on expanding industrial production, processing industries, and export-oriented products, which can contribute to future labor productivity increases.
It is important to understand that GDP growth does not automatically mean an improvement in living standards. If income generated from economic growth is distributed unevenly among the population or if inflation remains high, the social benefit of economic growth decreases. Therefore, the strategy also defines goals such as creating new jobs, increasing labor productivity, developing small businesses, and expanding the private sector. These measures play a crucial role in transforming economic growth into public welfare.
In recent years, the volume of investment in Uzbekistan has significantly increased. Projects in energy, renewable energy sources, logistics, mining, metallurgy, and infrastructure are becoming growth points for the economy. Nevertheless, as economists emphasize, the effectiveness of investments is more important than their sheer size. If capital is directed towards high value-added production, the pace of long-term economic growth will be even higher. This opens up opportunities for expanding exports, attracting new technologies, and creating highly skilled jobs.
Maintaining economic growth is not enough in itself. Uncontrolled growth in government spending, an increase in the budget deficit, or rapid accumulation of public debt poses a serious threat to economic stability. This is why the main goal of the Fiscal Strategy is to ensure a balance between economic growth and financial discipline. This document serves to plan government expenditures, ensure the efficient use of budget funds, and proactively manage economic risks.
Despite Uzbekistan's economy demonstrating high growth rates recently, inflation remains one of the most pressing issues in economic policy. Naturally, rapid economic growth leads to increased household incomes, investment, and consumer demand. However, if demand grows faster than supply, prices continue to rise. In the Fiscal Strategy, reducing inflation is viewed not only as a task for the Central Bank but also as a process closely linked to public finances, budgetary policy, and structural reforms. This approach aligns with international practice, as inflation can be curbed not only by raising interest rates but also by strengthening budgetary discipline, expanding production capacity, and improving the competitive environment.
If government spending grows faster than economic opportunities allow, it generates additional market demand, intensifying inflationary pressure. Therefore, the Fiscal Strategy provides for the phased rationalization of government expenditures, the review of inefficient subsidies, and the financing of investment projects based on sustainability principles. The goal here is not to cut government spending but to increase its efficiency. In other words, every sum of the budget must serve economic growth or public welfare.
The Fiscal Strategy aims to strengthen the medium-term planning system in relation to the state budget. This allows for forecasting revenues and expenditures several years in advance, rather than just approving an annual budget. Advantages of such a system include expanded opportunities for long-term funding of state programs, increased investor confidence in the stability of state policy, and simplified efficient allocation of budget funds while reducing the likelihood of emergency spending.
In economic literature, the budget deficit has always been assessed as a negative phenomenon. However, if the deficit is used to implement large infrastructure projects that increase the economy's productive potential, it can lead to high future economic growth. But if the deficit becomes permanent or is used to finance current consumption expenditures, it leads to an increase in public debt and additional pressure on the budget. Therefore, the strategy establishes a priority objective: maintaining the deficit at an acceptable level.
It should be noted that the volume of investment flowing into the Uzbek economy has significantly increased in recent years. Large projects in energy, chemical industry, metallurgy, transport, and logistics are creating new opportunities for economic growth. However, as economists note, the decisive factor is not the volume but the quality of the investments. Investments directed towards producing export goods, implementing high technologies, and increasing localization levels ensure long-term growth. The strategy provides for the continuation of reforms aimed at reducing state involvement and creating equal conditions for private business. To this end, goals have been set for transforming state enterprises, accelerating privatization, expanding public-private partnership mechanisms, and improving the competitive environment. As a result, the share of the private sector in the economy is expected to increase, which will contribute to higher production efficiency and job creation.
Furthermore, digitalization processes in public services, tax administration, the banking system, and payment infrastructure have accelerated in recent years. The Fiscal Strategy views the use of digital technologies as an important tool for increasing the transparency of public spending, increasing tax revenues, and reducing corruption risks. This creates a favorable environment not only for lowering the cost of government administration but also for businesses.
The main feature of the Fiscal Strategy is that it considers ensuring economic growth not only through government spending but also through private investment, a competitive environment, and human capital. This approach aligns with the modern economic model recommended by international financial institutions. However, achieving the set goals depends on strengthening budgetary discipline, institutional reforms, and the activity of the private sector.
State fiscal policy is usually adopted in the form of a technical document related to budget revenues and expenditures. But the Fiscal Strategy for 2027–2029 is a more comprehensive programmatic document that determines the direction of the country's economy over the next three years. The main idea of the document is to simultaneously maintain growth rates and ensure macroeconomic stability. Achieving these two goals simultaneously is not easy. If the state sharply increases spending to stimulate the economy, it can intensify inflation and the budget deficit. Conversely, if spending is excessively restricted, there is a risk of slowing economic growth.
Thus, the strategy seeks to find a balance between these two goals. The first important aspect is strengthening the medium-term planning system, which allows for managing government expenditures over three years, not just one. The second aspect is strengthening budgetary discipline, which contributes to ensuring budgetary stability by increasing the efficiency of public fund use, reducing unjustified expenditures, and selecting investment projects based on their economic viability. The third important vector is focusing on the private sector. Recognizing private business and investment as the main driver of economic growth aligns with the principles of a market economy. However, achieving the strategy's goals depends on several factors. Firstly, if the reform process of state enterprises is not carried out at the planned pace, the budget may remain burdened.
The program 'Horij Khabarlar' provides a detailed overview of events happening around the world. Among these are an incident at Dresden airport in Germany, where three aircraft were forced to deviate from their routes after a dead bird was discovered on the runway.
The Yemeni government struck the international airport in Sana'a to prevent the landing of a plane arriving from Iran carrying Houthis.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky offered the post of Prime Minister to Sergey Koretsky, the head of the energy company 'Naftogaz'. Furthermore, US senators demanded the start of an investigation into the incident that occurred at a school in Iran.
Germany is observing a sharp increase in the number of people evading military service. It was also noted that the domain t.me, associated with Telegram, ceased functioning because it was completely blocked at the registrar and registry level.
When discussing book-loving, one often envisions magnificent libraries, young people reading, and book festivals. Undoubtedly, these are the most beautiful and noticeable aspects of this process.
However, in today's global world, the book has ceased to be merely a spiritual value; it has transformed into a strategic resource that shapes human capital. This is why the publishing sector, which is the most important and fundamental part of the learning chain, requires a completely new perspective today.
Since any outstanding work cannot reach the reader on its own, complex and laborious stages follow, such as professional translation, meticulous editing, modern design, and quality printing. It is important that in Uzbekistan, the development of book-loving is aimed not only at propaganda but also at forming an entire ecosystem for creating books.
For a long time, the book market was understood primarily as fiction. However, times have changed, and the worldview and demands of readers have reached a completely new level. Today, youth, entrepreneurs, and specialists do not want to limit themselves only to fictional works. They need real, practical sources of knowledge in science, technology, economics, strategic management, and business.
The emergence of specialized private publishers to meet this social need is pleasing. A bright example is the project of the 'Gutenberg' publishing house, presented at the exhibition on Youth Day organized for June 30th, and which was presented to President Shavkat Mirziyoyev.
A publishing house should not just be a print shop, but a platform of knowledge that solves certain societal problems. As young entrepreneur Ravshan Burkhonov emphasizes, the 'Gutenberg' publishing house was created precisely on this philosophy:
'Before starting our activities, we conducted serious research on the issue: 'Where should we start?' Our observations showed that most local business entities opened between 2002 and 2022 had ceased operations. By studying the root causes, we found that our entrepreneurs primarily lacked sufficient qualifications and skills in running a business and defining strategy. There was almost no professional literature in the market to enhance their knowledge and potential. We accurately identified this gap. Our goal was to present the best practices of leading global business schools and universities in the Uzbek language, and today we specialize only in translating business and popular science works,' says the head of the publishing house.
According to the head of the publishing house, Ravshan Burkhonov, they have currently established official partnerships with authoritative educational institutions worldwide, such as Stanford, Oxford, and Cambridge. This partnership is evident not only on paper but also in real results.
Iles Tribulaev's book 'Entrepreneurial Thinking' sold 10,000 copies within a month. Furthermore, the HBR (Harvard Business Review) collection, published in collaboration with Harvard Business School, quickly reached nearly 9,000 readers.
These figures are not just indicators of successful sales. They demonstrate the growing need of the modern reader for reliable sources of knowledge concerning modern management, entrepreneurship, and business. This indicates that interest in high-quality, popular science, and professional literature in the country is reaching a new level.
A significant impetus for such active development of private initiatives in the field is the creation of systemic conditions by the state. In particular, the President's decision from January 15 of this year 'On measures to develop the culture of book-loving and increase public interest in reading' opened a new chapter in the industry's development.
The Fund for the Development of Book-Loving Culture, established based on this document, was able to become a remedy for the most acute problems of publishers. A system of partial coverage of costs for copyright fees, as well as the labor of translators and editors, was introduced. This allows publishers to translate the most famous world works into the Uzbek language without fear of financial risk.
Modern publishers are radically changing their model. They are no longer just technical enterprises accepting orders and printing finished texts. Today, publishers are becoming professional platforms that solve specific intellectual challenges of society.
The example of the 'Gutenberg' publishing house shows that research conducted before the project began indicated that many local business entities face crises due to a lack of modern knowledge and management skills. Thus, localizing the experience of leading business schools is not just about publishing books, but a direct investment in the domestic economy and the country's human capital.
Today, the attitude towards books in Uzbekistan has fundamentally changed. A book is no longer just a way to spend free time meaningfully or a means of spiritual perfection. It has become a vital strategic resource for economic progress, training competitive personnel, and building an innovatively thinking society.
A society that invests in knowledge is investing the most reliable resources in its future. The essence of today's reforms aimed at supporting book-loving and publishing is based precisely on this life philosophy.
