Fergana, 15–16 October 2025 – For the first time, the Fergana Peace Forum is held in Fergana under the title: “Fergana Valley: Uniting Efforts for Peace and Progress.” The event is organized by Institute of Strategic and Interregional Studies (ISMI) in collaboration with partners from Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan, with the support of national and international organizations.

The forum’s agenda includes topics such as strengthening dialogue and trust, ensuring stability and sustainable development in the Fergana Valley, unlocking its economic potential, strengthening cultural and humanitarian ties, and expanding the role of the private sector, youth, and civil society. The forum brings together experts from leading think tanks in the CIS, Asia, Europe, and America, representatives of civil society, the business community, academia, and youth activists from Central Asian countries.

High-level representatives of international organizations – UN, SCO, CIS, CSTO, EU, and OSCE – are also invited to participate in the dialogue. In addition, leading international structures in the field of peacebuilding participate, including the German Berghof Foundation, the Finnish M.Ahtisaari Peace Foundation, the Swiss PeaceNexus Foundation, and the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute.

It is noted that the event reflects the processes of strengthening cohesion and growing interaction between the countries of the region, embodying the unity of the peoples not only of the Fergana Valley, but of all Central Asia. In total, around 300 people participate in the Forum, including about 150 from Central Asian countries and more than 50 from the CIS, Asia, Europe, and America.

It is emphasized that the Fergana Forum should become a permanent platform aimed at strengthening dialogue and trust, developing a common strategy for the development of the Fergana Valley, unlocking economic potential, and strengthening cultural and humanitarian ties.

The forum particularly confirms the thesis of the President of Uzbekistan, voiced at the 80th session of the UN General Assembly, about the transformation of Central Asia into an area of peace, good neighbourliness, and partnership.

Thanks to the cohesion, stability, and growing regional identity, Central Asia increasingly occupies a solid place in the system of international relations as an independent entity. The establishment of an atmosphere of good neighbourliness in the Fergana Valley reflects positive processes throughout Central Asia, resulting from the political will and joint efforts of the leaders of all five countries to maintain security and stability in the region.