During the meeting, the parties discussed the outcomes of the recent state visit of the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan, Shavkat Mirziyoyev, to France, which opened new horizons for strengthening Uzbek-French relations and strategic partnership.
Mr. Dupuy noted that this visit was a logical continuation of the development of relations between France and Central Asian countries following the official visits of French President Emmanuel Macron to Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan in November 2023, which highlighted the mutual commitment to deepening cooperation between France and Central Asia.
He also emphasized that France, as one of the founding members of the European Union, has gone through an integration and cooperation process similar to the one currently underway in Central Asia. He expressed confidence that the exchange of experience and expert support from think tanks such as IPSE and IICA would contribute to the successful implementation of regional initiatives and the strengthening of ties between Europe and Central Asia.
It was noted that, in order to ensure the long-term effectiveness of such diplomatic initiatives, they require scientific and research support from think tanks, which generate expert assessments, develop recommendations, and help shape strategic decisions.
In this context, an agreement was reached to hold joint forums, conferences, roundtables, and consultations on issues of mutual interest, which will also help expand dialogue, foster the exchange of experiences, and strengthen academic cooperation between the two think tanks.
As a result of the meeting, J. Vakhabov and E. Dupuy signed a memorandum of cooperation, which lays a solid foundation for long-term partnership and further strengthening of expert collaboration between IICA and IPSE.
IPSE is a Paris-based think tank founded in 1998, specializing in research on international security, diplomacy, public development issues, and geopolitics. The Institute conducts research, organizes seminars, and publishes analytical materials, developing practical recommendations for national and European policymakers.
