10-07-2026102
The High-Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development (HLPF 2026) is taking place at United Nations Headquarters in New York, USA. This authoritative event, held from July 7 to 15, is the most important global political discussion platform, serving to strengthen cooperation between states, assess results achieved, and define future tasks for implementing the UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
This year’s forum theme is: “Transformative, equitable, innovative and coordinated actions for the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and its Sustainable Development Goals for a sustainable future for all”.
Representatives of UN member state governments, international organizations, financial institutions, parliaments, local authorities, civil society institutions, academia, and the private sector are taking part.
The forum’s main objectives include a comprehensive review of progress toward the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) set for 2030, an examination of countries’ national experience, the promotion of best practices, discussion of Voluntary National Reviews (VNRs), and the development of new mechanisms for international cooperation to address global challenges. This year’s forum places particular emphasis on an in-depth discussion of results and future tasks across five priority SDG areas: clean water and sanitation (Goal 6), affordable and clean energy (Goal 7), industry, innovation and infrastructure (Goal 9), sustainable cities and communities (Goal 11), and partnerships for the goals (Goal 17).
At a time when global challenges such as climate change, water scarcity, food and energy security, and economic instability are intensifying, this forum is becoming increasingly important for strengthening mutual trust and cooperation among states and for coordinating efforts to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals.
Uzbekistan is also actively participating in these processes. The country’s delegation is presenting at the forum the results achieved in implementing the Sustainable Development Goals, the large-scale reforms carried out under the leadership of President Shavkat Mirziyoyev, and the republic’s international initiatives.
In particular, Uzbekistan is taking part in a special high-level event dedicated to UN Goal 6, “Clean Water and Sanitation”, at which the international community was presented with reforms being implemented in the areas of integrated water resource management, the introduction of water-saving technologies, the provision of quality drinking water to the population, the development of transboundary water cooperation, and ensuring environmental stability in the Aral Sea region. In addition, as part of the forum, representatives of Uzbekistan are holding bilateral meetings with UN agencies, international financial institutions, and delegations from a number of countries to discuss further expanding cooperation in the field of sustainable development.
Today, the initiatives put forward by Uzbekistan at the UN are receiving broad support from the international community. A clear demonstration of this was the unanimous adoption by the UN General Assembly, on May 20, 2026, of the resolution “Strengthening regional cooperation and economic integration to ensure sustainable development in the Central Asian region”.
This initiative was put forward by the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan, Shavkat Mirziyoyev, on September 23, 2025, at the 80th session of the UN General Assembly. In a short period of time, the idea gained broad support from the international community, and the draft resolution was adopted with 66 countries as co-authors. The document will serve to deepen economic integration in Central Asia, strengthen transport and logistics connectivity, expand trade relations, promote the rational use of water and energy resources, ensure environmental stability, and elevate regional cooperation toward achieving the Sustainable Development Goals to a new level.
In essence, the issues discussed at the High-Level Political Forum in New York are fully in line with the priority tasks defined in this resolution. This demonstrates that Uzbekistan’s international initiatives are becoming an important part of the global agenda.
The current forum holds special significance for Uzbekistan, as the Sustainable Development Goals have been identified as one of the priority areas of the country’s national development strategy. In recent years, large-scale reforms have been carried out to reduce poverty and ensure employment, improve education and healthcare systems, develop a “green” economy and expand renewable energy sources, advance digital transformation and ensure gender equality, and improve the efficient use of water resources and environmental sustainability.
At the same time, on the initiative of President Shavkat Mirziyoyev, the UN General Assembly has adopted a number of important resolutions aimed at declaring the Aral Sea region a zone of environmental innovations and technologies, combating climate change, promoting the rational use of water resources, and strengthening mutual trust and cooperation in Central Asia. These initiatives are inseparably linked to the UN’s global efforts to implement the Sustainable Development Goals and further strengthen our country’s international standing.
Uzbekistan’s active participation in the New York forum once again demonstrates that the country is a full-fledged participant in global sustainable development processes, working consistently in close partnership with the international community to strengthen regional cooperation, ensure environmental security, and achieve the Sustainable Development Goals set for 2030.
Elyorjon Saminov
Director of the Center for Sustainable Development