President Mirziyoyev addresses St. Petersburg International Economic Forum, outlines regional connectivity

Addressing the assembly, President Mirziyoyev expressed gratitude to President Vladimir Putin for the invitation to participate and welcomed other high-profile guests, including Tanzanian President Samia Suluhu Hassan and Chinese Vice President Han Zheng.

In his speech, President Mirziyoyev noted that over the past three decades, the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum has evolved into a highly influential platform for deliberating critical global economic and political matters. He also reflected on the deep historical ties binding the peoples of Uzbekistan and Russia, recalling that citizens of Uzbekistan actively participated in the defense of Leningrad during World War II, while Tashkent provided refuge to millions of evacuated citizens.

The president underscored that the modern world is undergoing profound structural transformations. Global supply chains and transportation corridors are shifting rapidly, artificial intelligence technologies are being deployed across industries, and global frameworks for energy, food, and digital security are facing comprehensive re-evaluations.

According to the head of state, international competition is no longer confined to markets and raw natural resources. Instead, the focus has shifted heavily toward dominance in technology, logistics, and critical infrastructure. Under these evolving conditions, nations and regions capable of fostering stability, industrial cooperation, and mutually beneficial partnerships along their borders will carry significantly more weight.

Mirziyoyev emphasized that because Uzbekistan is historically situated at the heart of the ancient Great Silk Road, maintaining an open economic stance is not merely a policy choice for the country, but a civilizational necessity.

"Uzbekistan, and Central Asia as a whole, is becoming an independent center of economic growth," the president remarked. "The future landscape of transport, technology, and demographics is taking shape right here. This geographic space is solidifying into a primary communications crossroads connecting north and south, west and east."

To capitalize on this momentum, the president called for an entirely new level of regional connectivity. He stressed that success depends not only on expanding traditional transport-logistics corridors and energy networks, but also on fully integrating digital platforms, payment systems, and industrial manufacturing infrastructures.

A strong, economically interconnected, open, and resilient Central Asia, Mirziyoyev concluded, directly aligns with the long-term strategic interests of all international partner states operating in the region.