MAIN IMPERATIVES OF REGIONAL COOPERATION IN THE CONTEXT OF THE NEW UZBEKISTAN

Abstract

The article examines regional cooperation in the context of the concept of the “New Uzbekistan.” It demonstrates that since 2016 Uzbekistan has become a key driver of integration processes in Central Asia by initiating consultative meetings of the heads of state, as well as projects in the fields of economy, ecology, digitalization, and humanitarian cooperation. Special attention is paid to public diplomacy, the strengthening of trust among peoples, and the prevention of ethnic extremism, which resonates with the experience of the European Union.