The Sustainable Development Center hosted a meeting with Professor Ashok Swain, Head of the Department of Peace and Conflict Research at Uppsala University in Sweden.
Founded in 1477, Uppsala University is the oldest institution of higher education in Scandinavia. As holder of the UNESCO Chair on International Water Cooperation, Ashok Swain also conducts research on water resources management, peace, and security.
Discussions at the meeting covered the main areas of the Sustainable Development Center’s work, the process of implementing the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in Uzbekistan through 2030, and the involvement of civil society institutions in this effort.
The participants exchanged views on using research findings to improve public policy, expanding cooperation between the expert community and non-governmental non-profit organizations (NGOs), and incorporating advanced international experience into national practice.
Professor Ashok Swain emphasized that, during his first visit to Uzbekistan, he had been favorably impressed by the construction and development work underway in the country and by the reforms being implemented in the field of sustainable development. He noted that during his visit to the University of World Economy and Diplomacy, he had particularly appreciated the students’ eagerness to learn, their ability to communicate fluently in foreign languages, and their intellectual potential.
The rational use of water resources and regional water issues were among the important topics of the meeting. Ashok Swain gave a positive assessment of Uzbekistan’s efforts to develop its water sector and seek solutions to existing problems, drawing attention to their importance for Central Asia as a whole.
Opportunities were also considered for expanding international research cooperation to achieve national goals in the field of sustainable development, in particular for developing ties with Uppsala University at the level of experts and researchers.
Among the promising areas discussed were conducting joint research on sustainable development, peace and security, water resources management, climate change, and regional cooperation; organizing expert dialogues, conferences, and seminars; and launching educational programs for young researchers.