Uzbekistan is a source of global information development initiatives

The breakthrough made in the republic in recent years in the field of socio-economic development is directly related to the ongoing policy of active use of modern information and communication technologies. Increasing the efficiency of the public administration system, developing the economy and improving areas of work in the social sector - in all these areas, Uzbekistan is a vivid example of a fruitful systemic IT integration.

IT innovation has become a significant component of the political course of President Shavkat Mirziyoyev. In many ways, it was the leadership initiatives of the head of state in the information sphere, his readiness and focus on the active use of modern IT solutions that ensured the effectiveness of deep democratic reforms in all spheres of society.

Each time, referring to the need for widespread use of informatization and digitalization processes, the country's leader inextricably linked the issues of IT development with the formation of an appropriate high-tech information security system. In accordance with this, over the past five years, we have witnessed not only the technological growth of the national IT infrastructure, but also the formation of a new strategic vision for the safe use of information and communication technologies in the interests of citizens and the further sustainable development of the state and society.

The initiatives of the President of Uzbekistan in the field of information technology and information security have become an important driver of country, regional and global IT development. The relevance and pragmatism of these initiatives put them at the forefront of the modern agenda for the activities of the most important international organizations, form the basis for the development and adoption by the world community of coordinated, mutually acceptable decisions.

Among the most important initiatives of President Shavkat Mirziyoyev in the IT sphere, which have received universal recognition and support, is the proposal made at the Shanghai Cooperation Organization Summit on November 10, 2020. The President of our republic then spoke of the need to intensify cooperation in the field of the digital economy and the development of a special SCO Program for the Development of Digital Literacy, aimed at educating the population, training specialized specialists on the basis of agreed curricula.

The IT-initiatives of the country's leader, expressed during the summit of the Cooperation Council of Turkic-speaking States (now the Organization of Turkic States), held on November 12 this year, are of great practical importance. In particular, on the creation of a permanent platform for experts and IT specialists to exchange experience and transfer innovations to create "smart" cities.

At the inauguration ceremony of the President at a joint meeting of the chambers of the Oliy Majlis on November 6 this year, Shavkat Mirziyoyev noted: “To further deepen democratic reforms in our country, important measures are being taken to ensure ... the right of citizens to receive and disseminate information, to freely express their opinions and views ... no matter what, we will consistently continue this course, which we consider to be one of the most important directions of state policy” ...

The initiative of the head of state on the establishment of the SCO Expert Forum (dated September 18, 2021), which made it possible to create an effective mechanism for cooperation between the member states of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization to develop coordinated measures to adequately respond to modern threats and challenges in cyberspace, is also of great political and practical importance.

Today, the international expert community is widely discussing another deep strategic initiative - the Joint Statement of the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev and the President of the Russian Federation Vladimir Putin on cooperation in the field of international information security (November 19, 2021).

Signed during the official visit of the head of our state to the Russian Federation, this document goes far beyond the framework of standard agreements and represents a large-scale programmatic view of the leaders of the two countries on the prospects for information development.

In the named document, the heads of Uzbekistan and Russia expressed their concern about the growing possibility of using modern information and communication technologies for purposes incompatible with the tasks of maintaining international peace, security and stability.

Noting the fact that the use of these technologies increasingly poses a direct threat to citizens, society and the state, the leaders of the two countries advocated the prevention and peaceful settlement of interstate conflicts that may arise as a result of the destructive and illegal use of information and communication technologies.

The signed document calls on the world community to take all necessary measures to prevent the use of information and communication technologies for military-political purposes that are contrary to international law, and to carry out hostile actions and acts of aggression, to prevent the use of these technologies for terrorist and other criminal purposes, and also to undermine the sovereignty of states and interfere in their internal affairs.

The President of the Republic of Uzbekistan and the President of the Russian Federation supported the multilateral efforts undertaken by the United Nations in the field of information security. The need to continue work in the format of two expert groups created by the UN was noted: the UN Open-ended Working Group on Security in the Use of Information and Communication Technologies and Information and Communication Technologies 2021-2025, as well as a special open-ended intergovernmental committee of experts.

The leaders of the two countries once again drew the attention of the international community to the need to strengthen coordination of activities in the UN and other international platforms on improving the management of the Internet, including ensuring equal rights of states to participate in the process of its governance.

By adopting a joint statement, the heads of Uzbekistan and Russia welcomed the progress achieved in deepening cooperation in the field of international information security of the CIS and SCO member states.

In order to further strengthen interaction in the SCO space, they spoke in favour of the intentions to contribute to the implementation of the Plan of Interaction between the Member States of the Organization on International Information Security Issues, prepared by the Republic of Uzbekistan and the Russian Federation on the basis of the Agreement between the governments of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization member states on cooperation in the field of international information security. information security dated June 16, 2009.

The President of the Republic of Uzbekistan and the President of the Russian Federation expressed confidence in the further deepening of Uzbek-Russian interaction in the field of ensuring international information security. This will be facilitated by the signing of the relevant Agreement between the Government of the Russian Federation and the Government of the Republic of Uzbekistan on cooperation in the field of ensuring international information security.

Assessing the adopted joint statement of the leaders of Uzbekistan and Russia, it should be noted that it has enormous constructive potential. On its basis, the work on the preparation and adoption by the international community of universal international conventions on countering the use of ICT for criminal purposes, the development of a system of cyber diplomacy and more can be conceptually built.

Already, government and independent experts from many countries have supported the vision outlined in the joint statement, and also noted its universality, openness, democracy and focus on achieving practical results. The adoption of a joint statement will play an important role in stepping up the progress of work on the development by the international community of a common understanding of the existing and potential threats in the field of information security, organizing possible joint measures to prevent and counter them, and will contribute to strengthening confidence-building measures and building capacity in international interaction.

By adopting the Joint Statement of the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev and the President of the Russian Federation Vladimir Putin on cooperation in the field of ensuring international information security, Uzbekistan once again clearly demonstrated to the world its leadership positions in the field of countering the use of information and communication technologies for criminal purposes, respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms. in the information sphere, the implementation of a peaceful constructive policy.

The measures proposed to the international community by our country are based on the rich and effective projects of national practice in the formation and development of the information society. In a short historical period, Uzbekistan has become a regional leader in the field of digitalization and informatization. At the same time, he is open to international cooperation both in the implementation of new country and transnational IT projects, and in terms of reducing the risks of illegitimate use of ICT.

The visit of the President of our country to the Russian Federation clearly demonstrated the high potential of the republic, the readiness to share with the world the existing competence, to closely interact to achieve the goals of global sustainable development.

Ilkhom Abdullaev.

Chairman of the Public Council for Development

information sphere and mass communications under the Oliy Majlis of the Republic of Uzbekistan.