President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev will visit Saudi Arabia following an invitation from Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman to participate in the Arab Islamic-American Summit in Riyadh on Sunday. Heads of state and government from several other central and south Asian countries will also attend the summit along with the leaders US, Gulf, Arab and Muslim countries. The visit of the Uzbek leader to Riyadh coincides with celebrations marking the 25th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the Kingdom and Uzbekistan. Political relations between the two countries were successfully developing in the past 25 years. There is enormous potential for expanding bilateral trade, economic and investment relations between the two countries, according to press release issued by the Uzbek mission. The summit will discuss issues of concern and concerted efforts to counter traditional and non-traditional challenges and threats to security, ways of deepening cooperation in combating terrorism, separatism, extremism, cross-border organized crime, and strengthening international information security. The forum will exchange views on the need to strengthen measures to counteract the radicalization of society, especially among youth, and to prevent religious extremism, ethnic and racial intolerance. In the light of the agenda of the summit, attention shall be given to the uniqueness of Uzbekistan, which has certain achievements in ensuring the true will of the people. Direct involvement of the population of Uzbekistan in the process of decision making to ensure security and sustainable development is reflected in the declared State Program "Year of Dialogue with the People and Human Interest". Within the framework of this program, it is planned to fulfill a wide range of tasks aimed at real improvement of the population's well being, addressing employment issues, improving the quality of healthcare, further enhancing the role of the "mahalla". President Mirziyoyev will reaffirm his position that "people do not serve government bodies, but state bodies should serve the people." His position explains the urgency of establishing direct contact between the authorities and the citizens. Uzbekistan is home to great thinkers and scholars like Imam Al-Bukhari, Imam Al-Termizi, Al-Farghani, Al-Beruni, Al-Zamakhshari, Al-Khorazmi, Ibn Sina and others who have made huge contributions to the sacred Islamic religion as well as the development of civilization. It is admirable that today the great attention is being paid by the government of Uzbekistan to the issue of the revival and study of spiritual values, their preservation for future generations, the press statement said. — SG
