The comprehensive strategic partnership between Russia and Uzbekistan is currently one of the most important factors for international stability and development across Greater Eurasia. To strengthen the intellectual foundation of this interaction, the Valdai Discussion Club has been fruitfully collaborating for several years with the Institute for Strategic and Interregional Studies under the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan. As part of this partnership, a conference titled “Russia–Uzbekistan: Strategic Partnership in Eurasia” was held in Termez, Uzbekistan, on March 30–31, 2026.
The conference was attended by leading Russian and Uzbek diplomats and representatives of the expert community. On the Russian side, Mikhail Galuzin, Deputy Foreign Minister of the Russian Federation, delivered a welcoming address, and Alexei Yerkhov, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Russian Federation to the Republic of Uzbekistan, took part in the first session. On the Uzbek side, Botirjon Asadov, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Uzbekistan to the Russian Federation, participated, along with a number of other high-ranking representatives from the republic’s ministries and departments.
Expert community speakers included the heads of the Institute of Water Problems of the Russian Academy of Sciences, the Institute of Demography of the National Research University Higher School of Economics, the Institute of World Economy and International Relations of the Russian Academy of Sciences, the Interstate Commission for Water Coordination of Central Asia, the Institute of Advanced International Studies at the University of World Economy and Diplomacy of Uzbekistan, and the Innovative Transport Research Institute at the Tashkent State Transport University. Leading experts also took part from the Institute of Economic Forecasting of the Russian Academy of Sciences, the Centre for Comprehensive Economic and Social Research and Seminars of the National Research University Higher School of Economics, the Institute of World Military Economy and Strategy of the National Research University Higher School of Economics, the Institute of China and Modern Asia of the Russian Academy of Sciences, the Institute of Macroeconomic and Regional Studies under the Cabinet of Ministers of the Republic of Uzbekistan, the Institute of International Relations and Mass Communications, Uzbekistan Railways JSC, and Infra Projects LLC. Welcoming remarks were addressed to conference participants by Eldor Aripov, Director of the Institute for Strategic and Interregional Studies under the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan; Andrey Bystritskiy, Chairman of the Board of the Foundation for Development and Support of the Valdai Discussion Club; Shukhrat Yitgitaliyev, Advisor to the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Uzbekistan; and Ulugbek Kosimov, Khokim of the Surkhandarya Region.
The conference was structured by the organizers into thematic sessions: “Russia and Uzbekistan: Bilateral Dialogue and Opportunities for Cooperation in Eurasia,” “Current Challenges in Eurasia and Joint Solutions,” “A Space for Joint Development: Investment, Industrial Cooperation, Digitalization,” “Connecting North and South: Transport, Logistics, and Infrastructure.” This allowed for comprehensive coverage of all the most important aspects of the current bilateral relationship, as well as prospects for cooperation at both the bilateral level and in a broader regional context. A separate session was devoted to interaction between Tatarstan and the Surkhandarya Region—an example of the deep and diverse cooperation between these two important regions of Russia and Uzbekistan.
Addressing those present at the opening of the conference, Mikhail Galuzin, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation, noted that the main driving force behind the strategic partnership between Russia and Uzbekistan is the trusting relationship between their leaders. The mainstream trend in international relations is the formation of a multipolar system, with new players emerging. Russia consistently advocates for the democratization of international life and the principles of sovereign equality. The gap between the approaches of the global majority and the Western minority, which seeks to maintain its dominance, is widening. The processes of transformation in international relations are particularly visible in Greater Eurasia. In this environment, it is necessary to develop alternative mechanisms for economic and investment partnership and international security; it is within this logic that the Greater Eurasian Partnership initiative is built. Its purpose is to create a system of relations in Eurasia in which the states of the region would assume full responsibility for their own security and development. This system presupposes the elimination of destabilizing military and economic pressure from extra-regional players.
In his welcome speech, Andrey Bystritskiy frankly noted that the historical destinies of Russia and Uzbekistan are intertwined. In today’s turbulent and rapidly changing world, the importance of intellectual labour is paramount, and the best way to predict the future is to create it—precisely the purpose of our conferences. He also emphasized the critical importance of discussing how our dialogue impacts processes in the Eurasian space.
In response, ISRS Director Eldor Aripov noted that relations between Uzbekistan and Russia represent an example of sustainable partnership. Bilateral agreements shape the structure of our interaction. Trust at the highest level is a decisive factor. Contacts between our leaders are evidence of a sustainable, stable partnership. Trade turnover between the countries has more than tripled: the parties have moved from simple trade exchanges to multi-layered cooperation. The Russian-Uzbek partnership is the key to reliable interaction in the Eurasian space, with expert diplomacy playing a special role.
During subsequent discussions, conference participants repeatedly emphasized the potential for cooperation between Russia and Uzbekistan in innovative areas, where technological collaboration is currently developing, including in digital projects and venture capital. Uzbekistan is also a venture investment hub in Central Asia. The global economy is undergoing a phase of regionalization and a period of investment in joint ventures. While trade agreements reduce barriers, they do not guarantee a transition to complex manufacturing. It is necessary to localize production and develop production and technological chains. Participants noted that many enterprises with Russian capital operate in Uzbekistan (accounting for 17% of all foreign capital). Priority areas of Russian-Uzbek cooperation were highlighted:
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Deepening the development of cluster production, including in traditional industries
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Developing value-added chains
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Launching projects in vacant niches (e.g., a textile cluster)
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Personnel training
Participants also noted that Uzbek-Russian industrial cooperation has been developing rapidly in recent years and covers a wide range of projects, including enterprises in basic industries and small and medium-sized businesses. The joint investment platform, launched in 2024–2025, has completely transformed the regulation of relations between Russian and Uzbek businesses, accelerating the launch of new projects. It was also noted that there is currently great potential for developing cooperation between Russia and Uzbekistan in the field of AI.
The US-Israeli aggression against Iran since February 28, 2026, has impacted Eurasian logistics. The consequences of these actions have also affected Uzbekistan, which is attempting to reformat its logistics policy. The war in the Middle East caught global logistics off guard, but for Uzbekistan it served as a stress test. Uzbekistan has embraced alternatives, which helps ensure the stability of international trade. At the regional level, trade and economic cooperation between Tatarstan and the Surkhandarya Region is showing steady growth, with work underway in various sectors, including oil and gas, mechanical engineering, and medicine.
An important conclusion of the conference is that Russia and Uzbekistan have already made significant progress in strengthening their bilateral strategic partnership and are now developing and reinforcing its most important dimensions. Moreover, the intellectual cooperation format of the Valdai Discussion Club and the Institute for Strategic and Interregional Studies under the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan stands as a flagship model for the expert communities of both countries.
The Valdai Discussion Club was established in 2004. It is named after Lake Valdai, which is located close to Veliky Novgorod, where the Club’s first meeting took place.
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