TASHKENT, February 9. /IA "Doone"/. The official inauguration of the new Institute for Advanced International Studies took place at the University of World Economy and Diplomacy (UMED) yesterday, the correspondent of the news agency "Doone" reports.

It was attended by the heads of the Senate and the Legislative Chamber of the Oliy Majlis, the Ministries of Foreign Affairs, Investment, Industry and Trade, other ministries and departments of the country, heads of diplomatic missions and international organizations accredited in Uzbekistan, representatives of leading public and private companies, national mass media, professors and teachers, UMED.

Opening the event, the first vice-rector of UMED Durbek Amanov noted that the initiative of the leadership of Uzbekistan to open such an institute is aimed at transforming UMED into one of the country's main institutions in the field of international and regional studies based on best practices, the world's leading research centers.

First Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Furkat Sidikov stressed that for the first time an academic international and interdisciplinary research institute is being formed in our country, which will become part of a global network together with other world professional research centers and institutes for international studies.

During the event, memorandums of partnership and mutual understanding were signed with such foreign organizations as the Ebert Foundation (Germany), the Sussex University School of Global Studies (Great Britain) and the Rasanah Center (Saudi Arabia). An agreement was reached with the Center for the Study of Markets and Management Issues of the University of Pittsburgh (USA) on establishing cooperation and identifying joint research areas.

The main activities of the Institute are interdisciplinary study of topical issues of international relations, world economy, international law, regional and country studies, preparation of information and analytical documents, forecasts and recommendations on topical issues of modern world politics and economics.

In an interview with the correspondent of the news agency "Doone", Japanese Ambassador to Uzbekistan Hatori Takashi noted that he participated with great interest in the opening of a new Institute for Advanced International Studies in Uzbekistan. 

- I was interested to learn about the main activities of this center, what areas and aspects for research will be conducted in it, - the ambassador said. - For us diplomats, I think this is important and useful, because, thereby, new horizons are opening up for the development of cooperation in the field of research. 

 I would like to note that we also have a similar significant center, which was established under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan. 

Currently, Uzbekistan is considered a key country in Central Asia and is of great importance to Japan. Studying a number of regional aspects, including taking into account the fact that Uzbekistan borders Afghanistan and studying Central Asia as a whole in our country, of course, we will keep track of the research that will be conducted at this institute.