TASHKENT, April 10. /Dunyo IA/. Member of the New Zealand Parliament, Hon. Kahurangi Carter, shared her impressions with Dunyo IA regarding the significance of the 150th Anniversary Assembly of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) being held in Tashkent, as well as Uzbekistan’s role in hosting this landmark event:

– I must say we’ve been genuinely impressed by the warmth, professionalism, and hospitality of both the IPU organizers and the city of Tashkent itself. Everything has been organized to the highest standard. We’ve absolutely fallen in love with your city. It was especially meaningful for us to learn more about your culture.

We were very inspired by the speech delivered today by the President of Uzbekistan — he is a wonderful orator. What moved me most was his emphasis on Uzbekistan’s commitment to sustainable global development. I believe that it is essential for both developing and developed countries to work together toward achieving the Sustainable Development Goals, so we can live in harmony with nature and with one another.

The President addressed critical global challenges, including ensuring safety and stability for children around the world, and combating climate change. I am confident that the more we collaborate, the sooner we will reach these important objectives.

I would like to extend my sincere gratitude to the organizers. It has truly been an honor to be here. Uzbekistan is undoubtedly the jewel of Central Asia. I was especially pleased to see university students serving as interpreters and guides. This reflects the country’s dedication to youth and provides them with invaluable international experience — and a platform to represent this beautiful nation on the world stage.

We’ve had the opportunity to explore many fascinating and welcoming places in Uzbekistan. Learning about your country’s history has been incredibly enriching. We also had a chance to ride your metro — and for just 23 cents, you can go anywhere! That’s simply incredible.

We are very much looking forward to visiting your Parliament. I come from Christchurch — a city that experienced a major earthquake 12 years ago. Since then, we’ve been actively rebuilding. Seeing how Tashkent has risen after the 1966 earthquake is deeply inspiring. Today, your city is truly beautiful.

Hosting the 150th IPU Assembly here in Uzbekistan is a tremendous achievement. We’ve learned so much about your country, and we will take these memories and insights back with us — to our colleagues, to our Parliament, and to New Zealand.

I am certain that the outcomes of this Assembly will yield positive and lasting results. We will definitely maintain our ties with Uzbek parliamentarians, and we sincerely hope they will visit New Zealand one day — we would be delighted to welcome them.

Photo by Dunyo IA