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The first session of the Fergana Peace Forum, titled "Fergana Valley: Joining Efforts for Peace and Progress," opened on October 15. Experts from Turkmenistan were among the delegates.

The forum was organized by the Institute for Strategic and Regional Studies under the President of Uzbekistan (ISRS) jointly with the Center for Progressive Reforms, the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), the International Water Management Institute, and the Peacebuilding Hub, a platform uniting authoritative international organizations specializing in strengthening peace and social cohesion.

The event brought together over 300 people from Central Asia, the CIS, Asia, Europe, and America. Distinguished guests included UNRCCA Head Kakha Imnadze, EU Special Representative for Central Asia Eduards Stiprais, Director of the OSCE Conflict Prevention Centre Kate Fearon, CICA Secretary General Kairat Sarybay, SCO Deputy Secretary General Khan Sohail, and the UN Resident Coordinators in Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan.

Representatives of civil society, youth, women's groups, and expert and academic circles, as well as leading international peacebuilding organizations, including the German Berghof Foundation, the Finnish Mahmud Ahtisaari Peace Foundation, the Swiss PeaceNexus Foundation, and the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute are participating in this event.

The main goal of the forum is to create a permanent platform for strengthening dialogue, mutual trust, good-neighborliness, and the development of a common development strategy for the Fergana Valley.

The agenda includes discussions on 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.

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