In his speech at the opening of the forum, the press secretary of the President of Uzbekistan, Sherzod Asadov, stressed that the regular dialogue between Presidents Shavkat Mirziyoyev and Vladimir Putin, based on mutual trust and friendship, sets a high dynamic for the development of multifaceted cooperation between our countries, including in the field of media and communications.
In recent years, large-scale transformations have taken place in the information space of Uzbekistan. Today, 67 percent of the country's mass media accounts for the non-governmental sector, and the Internet penetration rate has reached 94 percent. The scale of digital content production is expanding, and the first national media bank in Central Asia has been launched.
At the same time, the rapid development of artificial intelligence and digital technologies poses new challenges for the professional community. The reliability of information, the responsibility of journalists, and the fight against fakes and disinformation come to the fore.
Information attacks and false messages should not become a cause of distrust and disagreement between countries and peoples. On the contrary, word and information should serve mutual understanding, respect and strengthen friendly ties.
Among the promising areas of further cooperation are joint educational programs and internships, cooperation in the field of fact-checking, the implementation of projects in the field of artificial intelligence and digital technologies, as well as strengthening direct professional contacts between the editorial offices of the two countries.
"I am confident that the forum will become an important platform for new ideas, practical initiatives and joint media projects," Sherzod Asadov said.
