Awaza:President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev has proposed several new initiatives to enhance cooperation among Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) member countries during a meeting of the CIS Council of Heads of State.

According to Azerbaijan State News Agency, President Mirziyoyev emphasized the enduring ties among the CIS nations, despite ongoing changes, and underscored the importance of leveraging shared history and potential for cooperation.

Among the proposed priority areas, the Uzbek president called for the full functioning of the CIS Free Trade Zone by removing technical barriers. He also urged for an agreement on expanding mutual access to public procurement of agricultural products and implementing a program for cooperation in food security. To improve market predictability, he suggested an early notification and consultation mechanism before imposing export restrictions on food and fertilizers.

President Mirziyoyev also highlighted the importance of a roadmap to support special economic zones, noting the interest of business communities in joint projects. Additionally, he expressed support for Turkmenistan's initiative to declare 2029 the Year of Transport Connectivity of the CIS.

On energy security, the Uzbek leader advocated for the adoption of low-carbon technologies and the development of circular manufacturing. He proposed drafting a CIS Cooperation Concept on a resource-efficient and circular economy.

In the cultural and humanitarian sphere, President Mirziyoyev suggested organizing a forum titled "Cultural Policy and Creative Industries." He concluded by expressing Uzbekistan's readiness to assume the CIS chairmanship in 2027, reaffirming the commitment to maintain close cooperation with all member states.