The Asian Symposium on Technology Diplomacy was held at the Center of Islamic Civilization in Tashkent, where participants discussed cooperation among Central Asian countries in artificial intelligence, digital technologies and cybersecurity, the Center's press service reported.
The symposium was organized by Uzbekistan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Tech Diplomacy Global Institute (TDGI). It brought together representatives of government agencies, the diplomatic corps, international organizations, the technology and business sectors, universities and expert communities from Central Asia and the Asia-Pacific region.
Speakers at the opening included Uzbekistan's First Deputy Foreign Minister Bakhromjon Aloev, Deputy Minister of Digital Technologies Rustam Karimjonov, Center of Islamic Civilization Director Firdavs Abdukhalikov, UN Resident Coordinator in Uzbekistan Sabine Machl, and TDGI founder and president Ayumi Moore Aoki.
The symposium followed an initiative launched after the adoption of the Samarkand Declaration on Technology Diplomacy on November 1, 2025, during the 43rd session of the UNESCO General Conference. The document focuses on cooperation among states amid the rapid development of artificial intelligence and other digital technologies, as well as on preparing diplomatic services for new technological and cybersecurity challenges.
Participants held three roundtables. The first reviewed the results achieved since the adoption of the Samarkand Declaration and the implementation of its provisions at the national level. The second focused on joint development of digital skills, innovation and training of specialists in Central Asia. The third considered the next steps in regional cooperation and the priorities to be promoted internationally.
The discussions featured representatives of relevant agencies from Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan, the UN Development Programme, financial and technology companies, universities and the expert community. The roundtables were moderated by Nayla Beth Gavel, senior managing director at the consulting firm North Highland.
During the symposium, Ayumi Moore Aoki presented the Tashkent Statement on the Implementation of the Samarkand Declaration. The document outlines further steps to carry out the initiative and to advance regional priorities on the international technology diplomacy agenda.
Diplomats and representatives from Azerbaijan, Afghanistan, the UAE, Georgia, India, Indonesia, Kazakhstan, Qatar, Kuwait, Oman, Pakistan, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Tajikistan, Palestine and Japan also attended the event. Guests from Malaysia, Mongolia, Poland and Switzerland were also present.
After the formal program ended, participants toured the museum exhibitions of the Center of Islamic Civilization, where they were shown multimedia and interactive displays, multilingual digital systems and artificial intelligence-based solutions.
ℹ️ The Center of Islamic Civilization has been built in the Uzbek capital next to the Hast Imam complex. The building is designed in the style of medieval architectural landmarks, with four portals, each 34 meters high, and a central dome rising 65 meters. It houses a Quran hall, a 550-seat conference hall and a museum whose exhibitions cover the entire history of Uzbekistan, from pre-Islamic times to the present day. The Center is intended to serve as a platform for studying the legacy of ancestors and reinterpreting it for today, in cooperation with the International Islamic Academy of Uzbekistan and research and educational centers around the world.
