The 4th China-Central Asia Forum on Human Rights Development, organized by the China Foundation for Human Rights Development and the National Center Human Rights of the Republic of Uzbekistan, took place in Tashkent.

The forum, held under the theme "Jointly Promoting Progress in Human Rights through High-Quality Development," brought together representatives of the expert, academic, government, and business communities from China, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan.

Following the event, the participants adopted a final document, the "Tashkent Initiative," which enshrined the parties' shared commitment to further strengthening cooperation in human rights, sustainable development, and humanitarian cooperation.

The forum's significance was enhanced by its holding during the 40th anniversary of the UN Declaration on the Right to Development. In this regard, the participants reaffirmed that the right to development is a fundamental human right, and sustainable socio-economic development is essential for ensuring human rights and freedoms.

The Tashkent Initiative emphasizes the need to further expand cooperation between China and the Central Asian countries to improve quality of life, reduce poverty, and develop education, healthcare, transport, agriculture, green energy, and employment.

The forum participants paid special attention to environmental issues and climate change. The document noted the importance of joint efforts to protect the environment, preserve biodiversity, promote green and low-carbon development, and ensure citizens' rights to a healthy environment and health.

The development of digital technologies and the use of artificial intelligence for human benefit were identified as priority areas of cooperation. Forum participants emphasized the need to narrow the digital divide, prevent the negative consequences of new technologies, and ensure their safe and responsible use.

The parties also reaffirmed their support for national models of human rights development, taking into account the historical, cultural, and social characteristics of the region's states, and expressed their support for strengthening intercivilizational dialogue and expanding humanitarian cooperation.

The document envisages further strengthening of interaction between national human rights institutions, public organizations, universities, think tanks, media, the business community, and youth in Central Asia and China.

The forum participants confirmed their readiness to facilitate the institutional development of the China-Central Asia Forum as a permanent international platform for dialogue, exchange of experience, and the development of joint approaches in the field of human rights.

Press Service of the National Human Rights Center

of the Republic of Uzbekistan

Dunyo IA