UNJournal Kayla Lee | From 3 to 6 May 2026, Samarkand will host the 59th Annual Meeting of the Asian Development Bank (ADB). The event is expected to bring together heads of banking and financial institutions from 69 member countries, as well as representatives of international organizations. Discussions will focus on the key development challenges facing the countries of Asia and possible ways to address them. The holding of such a high-level forum in Uzbekistan reflects the growing recognition of the country’s ongoing economic reforms and the strengthening of its position within the global f
UNJournal Kayla Lee | In recent years, cooperation between Uzbekistan and the Czech Republic in the fields of higher education, science, and innovation has been enriched with new content and has been steadily developing. Previously formed mainly within the framework of individual projects, grant programs, and short-term initiatives, this relationship has now reached a new stage — a well-thought-out, systematic, and long-term strategic partnership. Today, this cooperation is being shaped based on clear goals and priority areas. Links between universities are strengthening, transforming not only
UNJournal Kayla Lee | Stolen cultural property dating back to the 2nd and 3rd centuries AD has been returned to Uzbekistan following a large-scale investigation involving law enforcement agencies and scholars from across Europe. A number of artefacts, illegally smuggled from the Central Asian republic that was once the heart of the Bactrian and Kushan empires, were presented by the Metropolitan Police's Art and Antiquities Unit at the Embassy of Uzbekistan. They will subsequently be transported back to their homeland, where they will take a prominent place in the exhibition of the recently ope
UNJournal Kayla Lee | The Fifth Tashkent International Investment Forum will take place on June 16–19, 2026. This year’s theme - “Investment Resilience: New Frontiers, New Partnerships” – frames the agenda around a set of pressing questions: how to protect capital amid global uncertainty, what institutional mechanisms enhance investment resilience in frontier markets, and where the new partnership routes lie. The forum’s context is set by macroeconomic results. According to the National Statistics Committee, Uzbekistan’s GDP grew by 7.7% in 2025 and exceeded $147 billion – the fastest pace sin
UNJournal Lee Sung Jun | Today, climate change stands as one of the most urgent and complex global challenges, with its negative effects being particularly acute in ecologically fragile regions under high anthropogenic pressure. One such area is the Aral Sea region, where the consequences of climate change are having a far-reaching impact on the state of natural resources, the living standards of the population, and economic activities. The desiccation of the Aral Sea has led to a sharp change in the region's microclimate, an increase in air temperature, a decrease in precipitation, intensifie
UNJournal Lee Sung Jun| The history of mankind demonstrates that great civilizations rest upon a synthesis of intellectual achievements, spiritual values and cultural heritage. Since ancient times, Central Asia has served as a pivotal hub of science, art and philosophy, shaping the foundational elements of a civilization that has influenced the entire world. Today, this profound potential is embodied in a monumental project - Center of Islamic Civilization in Tashkent. This institution does not merely preserve historical artifacts; it serves as a living platform for science, education and spir
UNJournal Lee Sung Jun| The tragedy of 6-year-old Hind Rajab, who cried out, “I’m so scared. Please come and take me,” while isolated among the corpses of her family amidst the horrors of war, left a deep shock on the entire world. The “23 minutes of silence” highlighted by the film 'The Voice of Hind Rajab' continues to resonate deeply within our society. In the Gaza Strip, another young life is waiting for a desperate rescue. Recently, as President Lee Jae-myung of South Korea emphasized international humanitarian principles regarding the situation in the West Bank, messages of support and g
UNJournal Kayla Lee | On April 22, the next Summit of the International Fund for Saving the Aral Sea (IFAS) – one of the region's prominent organizations – will take place in Astana. The upcoming meeting of the Heads of the Founding States acquires special significance, as it marks the transition of the Fund's chairmanship to Uzbekistan for 2027–2029 period. This will be our country’s third mandate, following leadership terms in 1997–1999 and 2013–2016. It is worth noting that Tashkent was at the forefront of the creation of IFAS. Yet, resuming this leadership role after a decade takes place i
UNJournal Kayla Lee | In today’s rapidly evolving scientific landscape, international collaboration has become a key driver of innovation and discovery. No single institution or country can fully address the complex challenges of modern science alone. In this context, the long-term partnership between the Astronomical Institute of the Academy of Sciences of Uzbekistan and the Silesian University in Opava (Czech Republic) stands as a strong example of how collaboration can accelerate scientific progress and foster the development of new generations of researchers. This cooperation, which has be
UNJournal Lee Sung Jun | On Friday, April 17, 2026, the Embassy of Peru in the Republic of Korea organized a tribute to Mario Vargas Llosa — Nobel Prize in Literature laureate in 2010 — on the occasion of the 90th anniversary of his birth. The event took place at the Instituto Cervantes Seoul, located in the heart of the Myeongdong district, drawing a full auditorium of diplomats, academics, local media professionals, and students from across Latin America and Korea. The evening opened with a screening of a fragment of the documentary A Personal Journey Through 'I Dedicate My Silence' — the La
UNJournal Jon Lee | In an exclusive interview conducted online between April 9 and April 15, 2026, and supplemented by an in-person meeting at the Embassy of Belarus on April 22, H.E. Mr. Andrew Chernetsky, Ambassador of the Republic of Belarus to the Republic of Korea, speaks candidly about bilateral trade, Korean economic strategy, peninsula security, the Eurasian Charter, and the state of Belarus–South Korea government dialogue. BILATERAL RELATIONS Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko held a summit in Pyongyang with DPRK Supreme Leader Kim Jong Un on March 25–26 this year. What does th
UNJournal Kayla Lee | The Ministry of National Defense's Agency for KIA Recovery and Identification (MAKRI) and the U.S. Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency (DPAA) have launched a joint field survey in the Gangneung and Yangyang areas of Gangwon Special Self-Governing Province, running from April 6 to May 1. The survey aims to locate wreckage and traces of U.S. military aircraft lost during the Korean War. The four-week operation serves as preparatory groundwork for a joint underwater investigation planned for August. Field teams will collect testimony from local residents, gather relevant docum
UNJournal Kayla Lee | Adopted at the conclusion of the VIII Congress of Leaders of World and Traditional Religions (September 17–18, 2025), the Astana Peace Declaration 2025 has emerged as a landmark document in contemporary interreligious diplomacy. It outlines concrete directions for international cooperation in peacebuilding, sustainable development, and intercultural dialogue. The Congress brought together over 100 delegations from around 60 countries, reaffirming Kazakhstan’s role as a global platform for dialogue among civilizations. President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev highlighted the growin
UNJournal 이성준 | An analysis of nighttime satellite illumination data indicates a strengthening of economic activity across regions and an expansion in the number of territories exhibiting urban-type development. The Center for Economic Research and Reforms (CERR) applied satellite-based nighttime lights (NTL) data to assess economic activity at the level of regions and cities in Uzbekistan. The analysis shows that higher light intensity corresponds to higher levels of economic activity and more advanced urban infrastructure. CERR’s findings demonstrate a high degree of consistency between sate
UN Journal Kayla Lee | The Embassy of Greece in Seoul hosted a formal reception on Wednesday, March 25, to commemorate Greece's National Day — the 205th anniversary of the Greek War of Independence — bringing together diplomats, government officials, and distinguished guests at the Nuri Ballroom of The Four Seasons Hotel Seoul. The event carried particular significance this year, as 2026 marks the 65th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Greece and the Republic of Korea. Greek Ambassador to Korea Loukas Tsokos delivered the keynote address, reflecting on the depth