SOUTHAMPTON, May 11. /Dunyo IA/. Ambassador of Uzbekistan Ravshan Usmanov, paid a visit to the British city of Southampton to discuss the expansion of interregional cooperation, reports Dunyo IA correspondent. 

Southampton is a major port and logistics hub in southern England, as well as an important industrial and educational center. It is home to thousands of companies, with the city's economy valued at approximately £10 billion. Southampton is also one of the United Kingdom’s largest cruise ports and a renowned center for maritime logistics and innovation.

During the visit, meetings were held with the Lord Mayor of the city, the leadership of the University of Southampton, and the BAT (British American Tobacco) Global Research & Development Centre.

Lord Mayor of Southampton, James Baillie, spoke positively about the ongoing reforms in Uzbekistan, including economic liberalization, foreign trade development, and the modernization of the education system. He expressed strong interest in advancing interregional cooperation, specifically in the fields of education, healthcare, tourism and labour migration.

Particular attention was paid to cooperation in the field of education. During talks with representatives of the University of Southampton, the parties discussed prospects for introducing British educational standards in Uzbekistan, as well as launching joint programs, including double degrees, franchise programs and academic exchanges.

Founded in 1862 and a member of the prestigious “Russell Group”, the University of Southampton is one of the UK's leading research institutions. It is ranked 87th in the world according to the “QS World University Rankings 2026”.

Following the negotiations, the parties agreed to develop cooperation between the university and higher education institutions in Uzbekistan, launch joint research projects - including those focused on ecology and mitigating the effects of the Aral Sea crisis and collaborate on the training and professional development of nursing staff.

Furthermore, the representatives of Uzbekistan familiarized themselves with the activities of the BAT Global Research & Development Centre, including its global tobacco harm reduction initiatives and innovative developments.