KUALA LUMPUR, September 19. /Dunyo IA/. A “roundtable” discussion on the prospects for further deepening cooperation between Central Asia and Malaysia took place in Kuala Lumpur, featuring representatives from think tanks, diplomatic missions and business circles, reports Dunyo IA correspondent.

Event was moderated by Mohd Faiz Abdullah, Chairman of the Institute of Strategic and International Studies (ISIS) Malaysia. It was attended by Bakhtiyor Mustafaev, Deputy Director of the Institute for Strategic and Interregional Studies (ISIRS) under the President of Uzbekistan, heads of Central Asian embassies in Kuala Lumpur, as well as representatives from academic and business communities.

During the meeting, analytical material from the Institute of Strategic and International Studies was presented, focusing on the prospects of deepening cooperation between Central Asia and Malaysia amid geo-economic restructuring.

Participants noted the development of political dialogue between the countries, as well as the expansion of cooperation in the cultural-humanitarian sphere, tourism, and education. The role of direct people-to-people contacts in expanding economic interaction, trade and investment was particularly emphasized.

Foreign experts suggested intensifying Malaysia's approaches to cooperation with Central Asia, taking into account the region's economic growth and new opportunities, as well as searching for additional areas of trade, economic and investment interaction.

Bakhtiyor Mustafaev, Deputy Director of ISIRS, and Karomiddin Gadoev, Ambassador of Uzbekistan, spoke about the ongoing reforms in the country aimed at improving the investment climate, creating favourable conditions for foreign investors and supporting entrepreneurship.

Special attention was paid to the establishment of the Tashkent International Financial Centre and the new opportunities it provides to international, including Malaysian, investors.

Following the meeting, the parties emphasized the importance of regular dialogue and expert exchange between think tanks of Central Asia and Malaysia, conducting joint research and implementing analytical projects.