TASHKENT, April 13. /"Dunyo" IA/. The First Deputy Chairman of the Senate, Sodiq Safoyev, met with the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly (OSCE PA) delegation led by Farah Karimi, the Assembly’s Special Representative for Central Asia and Mongolia, reports "Dunyo" IA correspondent.

According to the Senate’s press service, the meeting highlighted the increasing importance of parliamentary diplomacy in today’s world. Both sides concurred that bilateral and multilateral parliamentary dialogues are pivotal for bolstering international understanding and trust, and for mobilizing global efforts to address regional and international issues.

The meeting underscored the enhanced interaction between Uzbekistan and the OSCE, attributed to the significant political and economic reforms and a revitalized foreign policy within the country.

Discussions also focused on cooperation in environmental protection, ecology, and the sustainable use of water resources. The criticality of a regional approach to address these issues was stressed, recognizing the interconnected nature of Central Asia’s ecology and water resources. The OSCE PA delegates highlighted the joint initiative by Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan to propose a special Assembly resolution titled "Implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals in Central Asia", which includes specific recommendations to leverage international organizational support for addressing regional challenges.

During the conversation, members of the OSCE PA delegation were familiarized in detail with the progress in implementing the Development Strategy of Uzbekistan, increasing the role of representative authorities at all levels, as well as with the vision of the Uzbek side regarding solving problems in the field of the environment and the rational use of water resources.

The meeting concluded with an agreement between both parties to foster a systematic dialogue and maintain active contacts within the OSCE PA framework.