Uzbekistan and Spain Discuss Approaches to Ensuring Regional Stability and Resilience in the Face of Global Challenges

A “round table” was held on the topic “Spain and Uzbekistan in the Face of Global Challenges and in Ensuring Regional Stability.”

The event was attended by representatives from the diplomatic and academic communities, business, and civil society of both countries.

The meeting was opened by José Pintor, Director of Casa Asia, and Farukh Tursunov, Ambassador of Uzbekistan to Spain. The moderator was Dr. Fernando Camacho Padilla, Professor at the Autonomous University of Madrid and Coordinator of the Research Group on Iranian Peoples (GEPI).

In his speech, José Pintor highlighted Uzbekistan’s role as a key strategic partner of the EU in energy and transport security, noting that Central Asia has long deserved greater attention from Spanish society.

Ambassador Farukh Tursunov recalled the deep historical ties between the countries, emphasizing that the appointment of Rui González de Clavijo as the first ambassador to Samarkand in the early 15th century was a major diplomatic event that opened an era of cultural dialogue between Europe and Central Asia.

During the meeting, Dr. Said Hamed Vahdat Ahmadzada, Director of the UNIVERSAE Institute and former Afghan diplomat, presented a report analyzing the evolution of Uzbekistan’s foreign policy since 2016, focusing on trade and economic cooperation with the EU, the US, Russia, and China, as well as the country’s participation in international organizations, including the SCO, CAREC, and the EU GSP+ program.

Darya Monastyrska, an expert in international relations and PhD student at the Autonomous University of Madrid, delivered a report on Uzbekistan’s diplomatic breakthrough in recent years. She noted the country’s transformation from isolationism to active regional diplomacy based on trust and constructive dialogue. A key achievement highlighted was the signing of the Khujand Agreement during the trilateral summit of the Presidents of Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, and Tajikistan.

Professor Andrés Santana of the University of Cádiz, Director of the International Center for Eastern Europe and Central Asia, discussed the role of cultural and educational projects in public diplomacy. The University of Cádiz has maintained productive collaboration with several Uzbek universities for many years. Professor Santana spoke about the Ruy González de Clavijo grants offered by the University of Cádiz and Casa Asia, aimed at funding projects that study the politics, economy, and culture of Central Asian countries and disseminate their results to a wider audience in Spain.

The final speaker, Dr. Cristina De Lucio from the Autonomous University of Madrid, presented a report on “Cultural Diplomacy from a Gender Perspective.” She highlighted the work of three women artisans from different regions of Uzbekistan. It was emphasized that Uzbek women are not only custodians of family values but also masters who transmit folk traditions across generations and serve as cultural representatives at local, regional, and national levels.

Participants noted Uzbekistan’s growing role in regional stability and its significant contribution to shaping a new architecture of trust in Central Asia. Experts repeatedly stressed that Uzbekistan has become a driving force behind the modern Central Asian revival and is ready to extend its successful model of dialogue to the international level.