Uzbekistan to host first Central Asia–Gulf think tank forum
Experts from both regions to explore political, economic, and energy cooperation ahead of CA-GCC leaders’ summit
TASHKENT, Uzbekistan (MNTV) — Uzbekistan will host the inaugural Central Asia–Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Think Tank Forum on April 28–29, bringing together top policy experts from across the two regions to explore new avenues for strategic cooperation.
Held under the theme “Strengthening Strategic Partnership: From Historical Ties to Comprehensive Cooperation,” the forum is being co-organized by the Institute for Strategic and Regional Studies under the President of Uzbekistan and the Gulf Research Center of Saudi Arabia.
More than 70 delegates from Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, and the six GCC states—Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Qatar, Kuwait, Oman, and Bahrain—are expected to attend, along with representatives from the GCC Secretariat, diplomatic missions, and the private sector.
The event is poised to become a milestone in formalizing expert-level dialogue between the two regions.
Key discussions will focus on enhancing political coordination, advancing regional security, deepening trade and investment ties, promoting renewable energy cooperation, and expanding transport and logistics corridors connecting Central Asia with the Gulf.
Organizers plan to place particular emphasis on developing actionable initiatives that could bring new momentum to interregional cooperation.
A joint statement and several memorandums of cooperation between think tanks from both regions are expected to be signed, laying the groundwork for long-term policy exchange and collaboration.
The forum’s recommendations will also contribute to shaping the agenda for the upcoming Second CA-GCC Leaders’ Summit, which is scheduled to be held in Samarkand later this year.
Beyond geopolitics and trade, the forum is being viewed as a platform to revive the shared historical heritage between Central Asia and the Gulf while identifying modern opportunities for building a resilient, multifaceted partnership.
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