TASHKENT, June 28. /Dunyo IA/. On June 26, the first Uzbekistan – Mongolia expert forum was held on "Uzbekistan and Mongolia: New Prospects for Mutually Beneficial Cooperation", dedicated to the outcomes of the first state visit of the President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev to Mongolia, reports Dunyo IA correspondent.

The online event was organized by the Institute for Strategic and Regional Studies under the President of Uzbekistan (ISRS) and the Institute for Strategic Studies under the National Security Council of Mongolia (ISS). It brought together foreign ministry officials, as well as heads and experts from leading analytical and research institutions of both countries.

On the Uzbek side, participants included representatives from the Center for Foreign Policy Studies and International Initiatives, the International Institute for Central Asia, the Institute for Macroeconomic and Regional Studies, the Center for Economic Research and Reforms, and the Center for Progressive Reforms.

The Mongolian side was represented by the leadership and experts of the ISS, as well as the International Think Tank for Landlocked Developing Countries.

The expert dialogue provided a rich exchange of views on the current state and prospects of long-term relations between Uzbekistan and Mongolia across various fields.

Opening the event, the ISRS Deputy Director Bakhtiyor Mustafayev emphasized the significance of the forum, taking place immediately after the first state visit of the President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev to Mongolia. According to him, this historic event was a breakthrough and fully met expectations.

A key outcome of the negotiations in Ulaanbaatar, as noted by Mr. Mustafayev, was the signing of the Joint Declaration, which elevated bilateral relations to the level of a comprehensive partnership. "This marks a transition to an entirely new quality of cooperation", - the ISRS representative stated.

Fully supporting this view, the Ambassador of Mongolia to Uzbekistan, Batbaatar Daadankhuu, described the visit of the President of Uzbekistan as a turning point that opened a new chapter in bilateral relations. In his opinion, the mutual commitment of both countries to comprehensive cooperation is evidenced by the signing of more than 15 agreements and protocols, reflecting a high level of political trust. The diplomat added that the opening of Uzbekistan’s embassy in Mongolia will serve as a solid foundation for intensifying contacts at all levels.

Head of the ISI Center, Niyamjav Soyolgerel, noted the active growth of economic relations between the two countries, despite the geographic distance. According to her, the upcoming opening of the Uzbekistan Trade House in Ulaanbaatar will significantly boost trade volumes.

In addition, the expert praised the pilot project of the road corridor along the Uzbekistan–Kyrgyzstan–China–Mongolia route. In her view, this initiative not only expands export opportunities but also strengthens economic connectivity between Central and Northeast Asia by creating new logistical pathways.

ISI expert Dashkhuu Batmunkh expressed satisfaction with Uzbekistan’s rapidly growing economy, noting that it offers great potential for cooperation, particularly in the agricultural sector.

He highlighted that both sides possess strong potential for establishing joint livestock complexes focused on wool and leather processing, as well as the production of halal meat products.

Researcher at the International Analytical Center for Landlocked Developing Countries, Gonchigzeveg Enkhzul, emphasized the strategic importance of transport and logistics cooperation between Uzbekistan and Mongolia, drawing attention to the fact that both countries lack direct access to the sea.

In this context, she highlighted the implementation of the project "Strengthening Uzbekistan’s Connectivity with the Countries of North and Central Asia through Joint Development of ICT, Energy, and Transport Infrastructure", as well as the launch of direct flights between Tashkent and Ulaanbaatar in September 2025. She believes these initiatives will contribute to the expansion of logistics chains, acceleration of economic integration, and an increased level of interconnectedness between the two countries.

Commenting on cultural and humanitarian ties, ISI expert Davaajanstan Buyandelger stated that historical relations have laid a solid foundation for further cooperation. He expressed appreciation to the President of Uzbekistan for allocating quotas for the education of Mongolian students, noting that this initiative will enable Mongolian youth to receive quality education in disciplines highly relevant to the country’s development.

Overall, the forum’s participants agreed that the President of Uzbekistan’s visit to Mongolia laid a strong foundation for the dynamic development of bilateral relations. Both sides emphasized the importance of continuing expert dialogue to ensure the implementation of the agreements reached and to explore new promising areas of cooperation between Uzbekistan and Mongolia.