国际 INTERNATIONAL
New Uzbekistan – A New Model of
Foreign Policy
By Akramjon Nematov, First Deputy Director of the Institute for Strategic and Regional Studies under the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan
Azizjon Karimov, Leading Research Fellow of the Institute for Strategic and Regional Studies under the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan
On 29 December 2020, the President of the
Republic of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev
addressed the Oliy Majlis and the people of
Uzbekistan.
In his Address, the President mainly
focused on the issues of conducting an effective
foreign policy capable of providing the
necessary conditions for the implementation
of a large-scale program of reforming and
modernizing all spheres of life of society and
the state.
For this purpose, President Shavkat
Mirziyoyev noted the need for improving
the foreign policy strategy of the country and
adopting an updated concept of activities in
this area. At the same time, the importance of
ensuring the consistency of Uzbekistan's open,
proactive and constructive foreign policy was
emphasized.
These distinctive features of the new
external course of Uzbekistan, the leading
role in the construction of which belongs to
the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan
Shavkat Mirziyoyev, include the following
basic principles.
First, a characteristic feature of the modern
foreign policy of Uzbekistan is pragmatism
in building relationships with all traditional
partners, as well as the countries near and far
abroad.
In this context, Uzbekistan proceeds from
the tasks of internal development. Among them
are maintaining high growth rates, modernizing
and sustainable development of the economy,
raising the standard of living of the population
and ensuring full integration into the structure
of world economic relations.
Achieving these goals is impossible
without accompanying the launched large-
scale internal reforms with an appropriate
regional strategy, establishing close relations
with closest neighbors, coordinating plans
within international organizations such as the
UN, SCO, CIS, Turkic Council, WTO, EAEU,
48 CHINA INVESTMENT
Issue5、6, March 2021
EBRD and other structures.
In a word, Uzbekistan's foreign policy
interests are based primarily on the priorities
of internal development, which actually means
an obvious shift towards the economization
of the country's international cooperation and
the strengthening of economic pragmatism in
external relations.
Thanks to the active use of this approach,
the efficiency of work on attracting foreign
investment and new technologies, expanding
the tourist flow, as well as increasing the export
of national products to world markets has
significantly increased.
In particular, one of the drivers of
economic growth in recent years has been a
sharp increase in investment activity. Over the
past 4 years, the average annual investment
growth rate was 22 percent. The total volume
of attracted foreign investments reached $26.6
billion, including direct investments of $17.5
billion.
In general, the total volume of investments
over the past 4 years has grown by more than
2.1 times, including foreign investments by
2.7 times. The share of investment in GDP in
2019 exceeded 38 percent for the first time,
which creates a solid foundation for ensuring
economic growth in the coming years.
At the same time, the GDP of Uzbekistan
in 2019 grew by 5.6 percent. Despite the
difficult conditions that have arisen due to the
consequences of the pandemic, the World Bank
experts predict the country's GDP growth in
2021 by 4.8 percent, which is one of the best
indicators among developing countries.
Thus, Uzbekistan's foreign trade turnover
is growing much faster than GDP and in 2019
increased by 26.2 percent, amounting to $42.2
billion. While in just 9 months of 2020, despite
the pandemic, the country's foreign trade
reached $27.5 billion.
Uzbekistan's plans to strengthen its role
in the establishment of international transport
corridors and joint implementation of other
infrastructure projects with foreign partners
also received a new impetus.
For instance, the wide involvement of
Uzbekistan in the implementation of the
Trans-Afghan corridor and joining various
international transport corridors («North-South»,
«Trans-Caspian corridor», «China-Kyrgyzstan-
Uzbekistan») create favorable prerequisites
not only for the country's exit from the state of
transport isolation but also for increasing its
importance as a transport and transit hub and
providing access to promising markets.
The implementation of these plans will
also contribute to strengthening the role of the
country in the process of drawing up a new
transport map of the world and strengthening
its position in the emerging modern model of
global supply chains.
Second, Uzbekistan today constantly
promotes the principle of multilateralism in
the country's foreign policy. Uzbekistan stands
for the development of creative processes of
globalization, the establishment of mutually
beneficial and equal international cooperation
based on dialogue, mutual trust and respect for
each other's interests.
This dictates the transboundary nature
of modern challenges and threats. Among
them, the epidemiological crisis and its socio-
economic consequences, terrorism, cross-
border crime, the food crisis, the fight against
poverty and the problem of global climate
change remain relevant, which can only be
countered by joint efforts.
Recognizing this, Uzbekistan today is
active in shaping not only a regional but also a
global agenda, building collective mechanisms
to counter various challenges and threats that
directly affect the security, prosperity and
sustainable development of the international
community.
Third, the country relies on proactivity in
foreign policy and distances itself from the role

of a passive observer of the ongoing processes
in the region and the world. This is confirmed
by the fact that by now Uzbekistan has
become a member of more than 100 different
international organizations and a party to more
than 200 international multilateral treaties.
In this context, particular attention is
drawn to the activation of Uzbekistan within
the framework of the SCO, the adoption of
the chairmanship in the CIS and entry as a
permanent member to the Turkic Council.
The growing initiative of the country
on these platforms, the mutually beneficial
nature of the proposals put forward and their
focus on solving problems that meet collective
interests also speaks of the intensification of
Uzbekistan's foreign policy activities.
In recent years, the participation of
Uzbekistan within the framework of the
UN has also acquired intensive dynamics.
A significant event in this regard was the
country's election for the first time in its history
as a member of the UN Human Rights Council.
At the same time, the country began an
active dialogue on joining the World Trade
Organization to gain its worthy place in the
world trade system, corresponding to our
resource and economic capabilities and human
potential.
Another notable event in this regard is the
receipt by Uzbekistan of the observer status in
the EAEU, which opens up new opportunities
for the country in achieving the goals of
progressive economic development.
Negotiations are nearing completion on
an Enhanced Partnership and Cooperation
Agreement with the European Union, which
will help create more favorable conditions for
mutual trade and soften the foreign trade regime.
Fourth, an important distinguishing
feature of the newly introduced strategy is
openness, one might say, the democratization
of foreign policy. Dialogue with the people,
which has been declared a key principle of the
activities of state power and administration
bodies, has in recent years turned into an open
dialogue with the outside world.
Wherein, the role of the public in the
formation of the foreign policy agenda
has significantly increased, and the circle
of subjects involved in its implementation
is expanding. In particular, the activity of
parliamentary and people's diplomacy is
growing.
Parliamentarians and the people, today
determine the vector and guidelines of foreign
policy, take on the role of active conductors of
foreign policy priorities and spokesmen for the
country's interests in the international arena.
At the same time, international non-
governmental organizations and public
associations are actively involved in foreign
policy, contacts at the level of twin-cities are
increasing, ties between youth and women's
organizations are strengthening.
The openness of foreign policy is also
confirmed by the expansion of the range of
politically sensitive topics discussed and jointly
resolved with foreign partners. Thus, the
country resumed cooperation with international
human rights organizations, unblocked access
to various foreign news resources.
Fifth, another significant principle is
constructivism. Uzbekistan is convinced that
the confrontational defense of national interests
in foreign affairs, especially with neighbors,
will not give the expected long-term effect.
It is important to search for reasonable
compromises and a mutually acceptable
balance of interests in resolving acute issues
of bilateral and multilateral interaction. At the
same time, any controversial issue should be
a subject of discussion and not an obstacle to
political dialogue.
This approach is based on other principles
of our country's foreign policy. This is
peacefulness and good neighborliness, which
reflect the peculiarities of the mentality of the
people of Uzbekistan.
The practical implementation of the above
principles in a short period of time led to the
settlement of the problems accumulated in
Central Asia, which for many years were
considered systemic irritants hindering the
development of regional cooperation.
The issues of water use, delimitation
and demarcation of state borders between
Uzbekistan and neighboring countries, the
use of transport communications and border
crossing have been resolved.
All Central Asian states without
exception are becoming beneficiaries of
such a transformation in the perception of
the region in the world. This is evidenced by
the improvement in the aggregate economic
indicators of the region’s countries.
In particular, in 2019 compared to 2016,
the total GDP of the region increased by 19.6
percent, and foreign trade by 56 percent. At
the same time, the total volume of attracted
investments for the specified period showed an
increase of 40 percent. Despite the pandemic,
the commitment to the chosen course of regional
cooperation will undoubtedly keep the dynamics
INTERNATIONAL 国际
of growth in the region in the long term.
Another indication of the changing
approaches and increasing international
attention to the region was the revision of
their strategies towards Central Asia by the
world's leading states. Thus, the United States,
the EU and India have already presented new
strategies for the region; the key place of
Central Asia is highlighted in China’s Belt and
Road Initiative and Russia’s Great Eurasian
Partnership Project. Uzbekistan invariably
advocates the conjugation of all these strategies
to turn the region into space for mutually
beneficial cooperation, and not into a zone of
competition.
Most importantly, thanks to the use of this
approach, the authority of Uzbekistan in the
world arena is significantly strengthened and
its international subjectivity is growing. The
country has established itself as a regional actor
capable of exerting a stabilizing effect on the
processes taking place in the region.
In his Address to the Oliy Majlis, the
President once again paid special attention to
the issues of bringing interregional cooperation
to a new level, announcing plans to hold the
third Consultative meeting of the heads of
Central Asian states.
Sixth, another principle that began to
prevail in the foreign policy, reformed under
the leadership of the Head of the state, is the
humanization of foreign policy.
This can be seen in the example of
the increased concern of the state for the
interests of citizens of Uzbekistan abroad,
including through the provision of state
services to compatriots and involvement in the
implementation of socio-economic, cultural
and humanitarian projects.
In recent years, Uzbekistan has achieved
a qualitative shift in the international arena.
The country seeks to become a responsible
and predictable partner, ready in a constructive
and open dialogue to solve the most pressing
problems of both regional and global agendas,
creating the necessary favorable external
conditions for the implementation of a large-
scale program of reform and modernization
of the country, primarily for the benefit of the
people living in Uzbekistan.
In this regard, the approval of the Concept
of Foreign Policy Activity in the new edition
is an objective necessity and is intended to
lay a solid foundation for conducting an
effective foreign policy aimed at ensuring the
further dynamic growth of Uzbekistan in post-
pandemic realities.
中国投资 49
2021年3月第5、6期
国际 INTERNATIONAL

乌兹别克斯坦改进外交战略
在进行大规模国内改革的同时，制定适当区域发展战略，与近邻建立密切关系，
在联合国、上合组织、独联体、突厥语国家合作委员会、世贸组织、欧亚经济联盟、
欧洲复兴开发银行等国际组织和机构内协调各项计划

文｜ Akramjon Nematov 乌兹别克斯坦共和国总统直属战略与地区研究所副所长

Azizjon Karimov 乌兹别克斯坦共和国总统直属战略与地区研究所首席研究员 翻译｜杨欣妮

2020 年 12 月 29 日，乌兹别克斯 简而言之，乌兹别克斯坦的外交政 入各种国际运输走廊 ( 如“南北运输走

坦共和国总统沙夫卡特·米尔济约耶夫
（Shavkat Mirziyoyev）向乌兹别克斯
坦议会和人民发表讲话。
总统讲话重点强调，要有效执行外
交政策，为大规模全面改革和现代化提
供必要条件，遍及社会生活和国家发展
各方面，以促进人民福祉，国家富强。
为此，沙夫卡特·米尔济约耶夫总
统指出，必须改进国家外交战略，并采
用最新外交理念。同时，他强调要保持
乌兹别克斯坦外交政策开放积极，富有
建设性。
沙夫卡特·米尔济约耶夫总统在建
立乌兹别克斯坦新对外政策中发挥了主
导作用，以下为新政策基本原则：
第一，采取务实态度，与传统伙伴
及已建立外交关系的国家开展各领
域合作
乌兹别克斯坦需要着眼于国内发展
目标，包括保持高速增长、实现经济现
代化和可持续发展、提高人民生活水平、
全面融入世界经济等。要实现上述目标，
就要在进行大规模国内改革的同时，制
定适当区域发展战略，与近邻建立密切
关系，在联合国、上合组织、独联体、
突厥语国家合作委员会、世贸组织、欧
亚经济联盟、欧洲复兴开发银行等国际
组织和机构内协调各项计划。
策将立足于国内发展任务。这标志着我
国国际合作趋向经济化，以及对外关系
中经济实用主义倾向的增强，这是一次
重大转变。
乌兹别克斯坦将积极运用这一新策
略，吸引外资和技术、提振旅游业，扩
大本国产品出口。
特别是近年来对乌投资急剧增加，有
力驱动国内经济增长。过去 4 年，年均
投资增长率为 22%，吸引外资总额达到
266 亿美元，其中直接投资占 175 亿美元。
总体来看，近 4 年投资总量增长超过 2.1
倍，其中外商投资增长 2.7 倍。2019 年
投资占 GDP 比重首次超过 38%，为未
来几年经济增长奠定了坚实基础。
乌兹别克斯坦外贸额增速远高
于 GDP 增 速。2019 年 乌 兹 别 克 斯 坦
GDP 增长为 5.6%。世界银行专家预测，
虽受疫情影响，2021 年该国 GDP 增长
率仍将达 4.8%，在发展中国家中处于
前列。然而，这远比不上外贸额增速。
2019 年外贸额同比增长 26.2%，达到
422 亿美元。而在 2020 年短短 9 个月
时间里，尽管有着疫情的影响，该国对
外贸易额仍高达 275 亿美元。
因此，乌兹别克斯坦也计划加大力
度，参与国际运输走廊建设，通过国际
合作推进基础设施建设。例如，乌兹别
克斯坦广泛参与跨阿富汗走廊建设，加
廊”、“跨里海走廊”、“中国 - 吉尔
吉斯斯坦 - 乌兹别克斯坦运输走廊”)，
不仅为我国打通国际运输障碍创造了有
利的条件，还提高了其作为区域交通和
运输枢的地位，帮助我国触及更多前景
广阔的市场。乌兹别克斯坦还可以在制
定国际运输路线上发挥更大作用，并巩
固本国在新兴全球供应链中的地位。
第二，不断推进多边主义原则。乌
兹别克斯坦主张以创新方式进行全
球化，以对话、互信和尊重为基础，
进行互利平等的国际合作
目前全球面临的挑战和威胁，必须
通过国际合作才能解决。新冠肺炎疫情导
致的世界经济衰退以及相关社会问题，恐
怖主义、跨国犯罪、粮食危机、贫困问题
和全球气候变化的挑战仍然存在，只有通
过各国共同努力才能解决这些问题。
乌兹别克斯坦对此具有深刻认识，
不仅积极探索区域发展计划，还积极参
与全球发展议程的制定，建立合作机制，
应对直接影响国际社会安全、繁荣和可
持续发展的各种挑战和威胁。
第三，采取积极主动的态度，不再
被动参与区域及全球发展进程
迄 今 为 止， 乌 兹 别 克 斯 坦 已 成 为
100 多个不同国际组织的成员和 200 多

50 CHINA INVESTMENT
Issue5、6, March 2021
 INTERNATIONAL 国际

个国际多边协议的缔约国。乌兹别克斯 也积极参与外交。通过友好城市、青年 56%，吸引投资总额增长 40%。尽管出

坦加入上海合作组织框架，担任独联体 组织和妇女组织等主体，国际联系不断 现了疫情，但坚持走区域合作路线，将
主席，并成为突厥语国家合作委员会常 加强。 长期保持该地区的增长动力。
任理事国。 此外，在政治敏感问题的讨论和解 世界主要国家修订了其中亚战略，
近 年 来， 乌 兹 别 克 斯 坦 更 加 积 极 决中，允许外国合作伙伴更多参与。因 也体现出国际上对该地区策略的改变，
地 通 过 联 合 国 框 架 进 行 活 动。 首 次 当 此，该国恢复了与国际人权组织的合作， 对该地区关注度的提高。美国、欧盟和
选 联 合 国 人 权 理 事 会 成 员， 就 是 一 个 不再封锁各种外国新闻资源。 印度已经提出了新的中亚战略；中国“一
重要成就。 带一路”倡议和俄罗斯的“大欧亚伙伴
同时，该国开始进行积极对话，力 第五，坚持建构主义 关系”计划也都突出了中亚的关键地位。
图加入世界贸易组织，在世界贸易体系 乌兹别克斯坦相信，在外交事务中 乌兹别克斯坦一贯主张综合所有这些战
中获得与其资源、经济能力以及发展潜 以对抗的方式捍卫国家利益（特别是与 略，在中亚进行互利合作，而非相互竞争。
力相匹配的地位。 邻国），长期上无法达到预期的效果。 最重要的是，由于采用建构主义方
同样值得注意的是，乌兹别克斯坦 在解决双边和多边交往的尖锐问题 法，乌兹别克斯坦在世界舞台上的话语
获得了欧亚经济联盟观察员国地位，为该 时，必须寻求合理妥协，平衡双方利益。 权日益增强，其国际主体地位不断提高。
国实现经济逐步发 我国已经能够在该
展提供了新的机遇。 区域发展进程中发
该国与欧盟关 挥稳定的作用。
于《 加 强 伙 伴 关 系 此 次， 总 统 在
与 合 作 协 定》 的 谈 美国、欧盟和印度已经提出了新的中亚战略；中国“一带 向议会发表讲话
判 已 接 近 尾 声， 该 时， 再 次 强 调 提 高
一路”倡议和俄罗斯的“大欧亚伙伴关系”计划也都突出
协定将创造有利条 区 域 间 合 作 水 平，
件，促进双边贸易，
了中亚的关键地位。乌兹别克斯坦一贯主张综合所有这些 宣布计划举行第三
建立更加适当的外 战略，在中亚进行互利合作，而非相互竞争 次中亚国家元首协
贸体制。 商会议。
乌兹别克斯坦
日 益 主 动， 提 出 互 第 六， 外 交 政 策
惠建议，并注重解决国际关切，表明乌 同时，应就任何争议问题进行讨论，而 改革的另一原则是以人为本
兹别克斯坦在外交活动上更加活跃。 不应停止政治对话。 乌兹别克斯坦更加关心海外乌兹别
这种做法是基于该国外交政策的和 克斯坦公民的利益，向海外公民提供国
第四，坚持开放的外交政策，即外 平与睦邻友好原则，也是乌兹别克斯坦 家服务，参与实施社会、经济、文化和
交政策的民主化 人民的心态特点。 人道主义项目。
国家权力和行政机关已宣布将与人 上述原则在短时间内得到切实执行， 近年来，乌兹别克斯坦在国际舞台
民对话奉为重要原则，近年来也开始在 多年来阻碍中亚地区区域合作发展的系 上实现了质的转变。我国致力于成为负
外交政策上与外国主体进行公开讨论。 统性问题得到解决。 责任和可靠的合作伙伴，准备通过开放
在外交政策议程的形成中，公众的 乌兹别克斯坦与邻国之间就水资源 和建设性的对话，解决区域和全球议程
作用明显增强，参与执行外交政策的主 使用、国家边境定界和标界、交通通讯 中最紧迫的问题，为大规模改革和现代
体范围也在扩大，特别是议会外交越来 设施使用和边境控制问题达成一致。 化创造有利外部条件，实现乌兹别克斯
越多，人民外交日趋频繁。 世界对该地区看法也因此发生转变。 坦人民利益。
当前，议员和人民决定外交政策的 所有中亚国家无一例外从中受益，该区 为此，新版《外交政策活动理念》
方向和方针，在国际舞台上积极引领外 域各国总体经济指标均有改善。 的实施是客观需要，旨在为推动务实的外
交政策的制定，成为国家利益的捍卫者。 特 别 是 该 区 域 2019 年 GDP 总 量 交政策奠定坚实基础，促进乌兹别克斯坦
同时，国际非政府组织和社会团体 较 2016 年增长 19.6%，对外贸易增长 经济在疫情后蓬勃发展。( 编辑 : 张梅 )

中国投资 51
2021年3月第5、6期