Uzbek expert: Political dialogue and trust must be enhanced in Asia

Political dialogue and mutual trust in Asia must be strengthened, said Bakhtiyor Mustafayev, Deputy Director of the Institute for Strategic and Regional Studies under the President of Uzbekistan.

According to Report, Mustafayev made the remarks during the second day of the 13th session of the CICA Think Tank Forum in Baku, speaking at the panel titled "CICA as an International Organization: Transformation and Capacity Building."

Mustafayev noted that Asian countries are facing major challenges amid rising geopolitical tensions and a global crisis:

"There must be a stronger commitment to CICA's core principles and unwavering adherence to them. A stable political environment can be achieved through mutual consideration of interests. Political dialogue and mutual trust in Asia must be enhanced. Our economies must also adapt to global challenges," he said.

Despite having vast resources and capabilities, Asian countries remain vulnerable to emerging threats, the Uzbek expert added.

"Serious efforts must be made to ensure food security. Intra-regional trade should be expanded. Measures must also be taken to increase resilience against climate change, as Asia is the most affected continent by natural disasters linked to it. Only by identifying shared problems and strengthening unity can these challenges be overcome," he emphasized.