On 15 - 16 October, SRSG for Central Asia and Head of UNRCCA Kaha Imnadze took part in the first Fergana Peace Forum, held in the city of Fergana.
Organized under the auspices of the Institute for Strategic and Regional Studies under the President of Uzbekistan and guided by the theme “Fergana Valley – Joining Forces for Peace and Progress”, the Forum brought together over 300 participants from across Central Asia and beyond — including representatives of governments, international and regional organizations, civil society, academia, and youth. Notably, the Forum featured the participation of the Governors of Fergana, Batken and Sugd provinces, sharing Fergana valley.
The event aimed to promote cross-border cooperation, strengthen good-neighborly relations, and foster inclusive, locally anchored approaches to peacebuilding, connectivity, and sustainable development across the Valley.
Set in the heart of the Fergana Valley, the Forum underscored the tangible progress made in regional relations since the March 2025 Kyrgyzstan–Tajikistan border agreement and the subsequent trilateral declaration adopted in Khujand and demonstrated the growing commitment of regional actors to build on this momentum - transforming the Valley into a shared space of sustainable peace, cross-border connectivity, and inclusive development.
The Forum addressed a wide spectrum of interconnected priorities - including regional trade, infrastructure, and connectivity; water and energy cooperation; environmental sustainability; gender equality; youth participation; and local peacebuilding. Its inclusive, comprehensive agenda reflected a common aspiration to develop practical and collaborative approaches that contribute to strengthened regional cooperation, sustainable development, and lasting peace in the Fergana Valley.
In his remarks, SRSG Imnadze welcomed the convening of the Forum in Fergana as a timely and significant initiative, reinforcing recent breakthroughs in dialogue and regional diplomacy. He stressed the need to sustain the positive momentum through practical cooperation and broad-based inclusion, stating: “Peace is not only an aspiration - it is a shared responsibility. This region is showing how inclusive dialogue, patient diplomacy, and regional ownership can turn cooperation into a lived reality.”
He also encouraged rotating future editions of the Forum across the Fergana Valley - including in Osh and Khujand - to further localize regional cooperation and promote mutual engagement at all levels of society.
UNRCCA remains committed to supporting such initiatives that reinforce dialogue, trust-building, and long-term cooperation across Central Asia, in close coordination with national and regional partners.
