CERCLE DIPLOMATIQUE - issue 03/2023

LE MONDE UZBEKISTAN | INTERVIEW
south, southwest, and east corridors, which
will allow Uzbekistan to access the markets
of the Eurasian Economic Union countries,
the European countries, Turkey, Afghanistan,
Pakistan, India, and China. As China
remains a top trade partner of Uzbekistan,
it is vital to connect to China via the future
China-Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan railroad,
which will provide faster and cheaper
transportation of goods. Simultaneously,
Uzbekistan boosted efforts to complete a
trans-Afghan railroad to Pakistan. The
Middle Corridor, also known as the Trans-
Caspian International Transport Route, is
also gaining popularity as a key East-West
connection. The newly adopted Transport
Strategy of Uzbekistan defined the Middle
Corridor as one of the key priorities in the
international transportation.
Uzbekistan has ambitious plans in environment
politics, with reforestation programmes and
alternative energy. Please describe a few effects.
In Uzbekistan, the issues of environmental
security have risen to the level of
state policy. In November 2021, President
Shavkat Mirziyoyev launched a visionary
initiative, called “Yashil Makon” (Green
Nation), to plant 1 billion trees and shrubs
across the country over the next five years.
The project will contribute to cleaner
air in urban centres, saving lives and improving
livelihoods. It will also help fulfill
the country’s commitments under the Paris
Agreement to mitigate climate change and
adapt to climate impacts.
Uzbekistan’s energy sector is also currently
undergoing a large-scale transition.
We have an ambitious goal – to generate
30% of the electricity from renewable energy
sources by 2030. Uzbekistan has considerable
renewable energy potential, a substantial
amount of which lies in solar
energy. Harnessing the sun’s energy is one
factor in making this plan a reality. Uzbekistan
has an average of 330 sunny days a
year, which is a huge potential for this type
of energy. Today, large-scale solar projects
are attracting international private investors
to the country. Besides that, the
government is currently planning to set a
renewable capacity target of 4 GW for wind
by 2026.
The vast disappearance of Aral Sea is one of the
most serious environmental catastrophes in the
world. President Mirziyoyev showed dramatic
photos in the UN-General Assembly. Is there any
hope for this affected region?
The crisis of the Aral Sea is the largest
environmental catastrophe of our time. We
are using every fora to draw the attention of
international community to the devastating
consequences of this environmental
problem. Uzbekistan has set an ambitious
goal to turn the dried-up floor of the Aral
Sea into a garden, and almost one and a
half million hectares are already covered
with greenery. In order to address the negative
impacts of the Aral Sea’s desiccation
the Multi-Partner Human Security Trust
Fund for the Aral Sea region established by
the initiative of Uzbekistan has funded
over $14 million in projects.
The Government also launched the Aral
Cultural Summit, which will focus on preserving
biocultural and linguistic diversity. The
summit will unite artists with local farmers,
creating sustainable ties in the field of design
for cultivating new plants and designing a
strategic plan for the next ten years.
PHOTO: RALPH MANFREDA
You shape the future.
We offer you the space.
Medicine, research and science require free space:
Salzburg Congress, in the heart of the City of Mozart,
provides just that! Congress organisers from all over the
world appreciate the literal freedom the building offers,
but also the flexibility, the enormous competence, as well
as the charm of Salzburg. Anyone who meets here is in
the best of company and continues Salzburg’s tradition as
a city of science. At an exceptionally high standard.
TSG Tourismus Salzburg GmbH
Auerspergstraße 6 | 5020 Salzburg | Austria
+43 662 88987-0 | welcome@salzburgcongress.at salzburgcongress.at
40
Cercle Diplomatique 3/2023