Why should I not praise you before the wide world, calling you “my Uzbek,” When my era
has granted me the chance to know my true self, my Uzbek.
— E. Vohidov
As I write these lines, two drops of pearl-like tears roll down beneath my glasses. Recently,
I traveled to the Tian Shan mountains. Those three days felt like three years. On my way
back, the very moment I set foot on my beloved Homeland, my chest filled with the scent
of serenity. I felt the taste of peace and happiness. As I got into the car, these lines echoed
in my heart:
My Homeland, you are my pride,
The soil where traces of my childhood remain.
You see me off when I leave and wait until I return,
I feel your love like a mother’s embrace.
I have seen many lands, I have seen the Tian Shan,
Yet I understood your true worth even more, my dear motherland.
I do not need Paris and its Eiffel Tower,
A handful of your soil is honor and glory for me!
With these thoughts, I continued my journey. At one moment, I noticed a girl sitting nearby,
quietly reading a book. Again, I sank into reflection:
In which country does a president give a car simply because someone reads a book?
In which country does the state reward you by funding six months of education if you learn
a foreign language for just two months?
In which country is an entire Olympic town built freely, solely for young people?
The answer to all of these questions is one: Uzbekistan.
Indeed, today Uzbekistan is a country of youth. For the first time in history, practical
solutions are being implemented to support the dreams and initiatives of the younger generation — solutions that nurture their pursuit of knowledge, creativity, sports, and a
rightful place on the international stage. As a result, every young person today has the
opportunity to make their voice heard, to present their ideas, national values,and identity to
the world.Yes, today’s generation is educated, healthy, and confidently proving itself on the
global stage.Young Uzbeks are studying at the world’s most prestigious universities —
Harvard, Oxford, Cambridge, Stanford, and many others. And if we speak of sports, you
have surely seen our flag proudly waving atop the world’s greatest arenas at least once. Our
young innovators, meanwhile, present their inventions at renowned platforms such as the
International Innovation Expo and UN & UNESCO Youth Forums, consistently being in
the spotlight of international investors.
Let us speak through simple facts from 2024–2025:
For the first time in history, UNESCO’s General Conference was held outside Paris — and
that city was Samarkand. Uzbekistan became the first country to make this
happen.Moreover, Uzbekistan became a member of the UN Human Rights Council.
International education standards were introduced.Transparency and openness were
promoted in politics. For the first time in history, our female karate and judo athletes stood
atop the podiums, bringing chains of medals back to the Homeland. For ten consecutive
years, our boxers have once again proven that they are among the world’s strongest. In
2025, our footballers carried the Uzbek nation onto the FIFA stage. At just 20 years old,
Sindarov once again proved to the world in 2025 that he is the “King of Chess.” When we
analyze these developments, it becomes clear that in recent years Uzbekistan has secured a
strong position internationally as an open, reform-oriented country that ties its future to itsyouth. Remarkable victories in sports, achievements in science and innovation, young men
and women studying at leading global universities, and active participation on international
platforms are tangible results of this transformation. State-led youth policy, investments in
education and sports, and cooperation with influential international organizations such as
the UN and UNESCO have elevated Uzbekistan’s global standing.
Particularly, initiatives that bring youth rights and opportunities to the international level
clearly demonstrate the country’s strategic vision.
