Foreign Minister of Uzbekistan Bakhtiyor Saidov spoke during the general debate of the 79th session of the UN General Assembly. FM of Uzbekistan: Central Asian countries are united in the fight against climate change UN
Air temperature in Central Asia is rising faster than the world average. This creates serious risks for food and energy security. This was stated by Foreign Minister of Uzbekistan Bakhtiyor Saidov, speaking at the general debate of the 79th session of the UN General Assembly.
Consequences of climate change
Thus, according to the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Uzbekistan, the level of water availability per capita in Central Asia has halved over the past few decades.
The Aral Sea disaster continues to have an extremely negative impact on the ecosystems of all states in the region. “We call on the international donor community to expand projects in the Aral Sea region aimed at mitigating the devastating consequences of this disaster,” the speaker continued.
He recalled that the Aral Sea was the first region in the world to which the UN granted the status of a Zone of Environmental Innovation and Technology. “Our best practices could benefit other countries facing similar problems,” Saidov said.
Global Challenges and the Role of the UN
Wars and conflicts, the triple planetary climate crisis, the deterioration of the global economy, the growth of social inequality and the technological gap affect all countries without exception, said the head of the Uzbek Foreign Ministry.
In this context, he called for preserving the enormous potential of multilateral cooperation developed over decades within the UN and other international organizations.
“We are firmly convinced that the United Nations should continue to play a central role in addressing the global challenges of the 21st century,” added Bakhtiyor Saidov.
Actions at the national level
At the same time, he also stressed that solving global problems at the national level is important for maintaining stability and well-being of the population of any countries.
“The consistent implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals has been defined by the President of our country as the cornerstone of Uzbekistan’s state policy,” the minister said.
In recent years, he said, Uzbekistan has made significant progress in reducing poverty, improving access to education, moving to a green economy and promoting gender equality. “Our GDP has more than doubled, and the poverty rate has dropped to 11 percent,” the speaker said.
Women’s Rights
The empowerment of women and girls is a key component of the country’s state policy, the minister noted. According to him, Uzbekistan has made significant progress in ensuring gender equality, entering the top five countries in this indicator.
Regional cooperation
Central Asia remains the top priority in Uzbekistan’s foreign policy, the Foreign Minister said. Today, he said, the region is firmly focused on connecting to major world markets and reviving the Great Silk Road.
“Afghanistan is an integral part of Central Asia”
“Unfortunately, the international community has failed to take measures that could reverse the difficult situation in Afghanistan,” the Foreign Minister noted. Uzbekistan, he said, is pursuing a “pragmatic policy” towards its neighbor.
“We will continue to contribute to the economic recovery of Afghanistan, the development of its transport and energy infrastructure,” he added.