{
  "id": 4989830,
  "title": "S'pore & Uzbekistan can work together to link up central & southeast Asia: SM Lee in speech to Uzbek parliament",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/01/spore-uzbekistan-can-work-together-to-link-up-central-southeast-asia",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-09-01T17:47:12.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Mothership",
    "slug": "mothership",
    "url": "https://mothership.sg/2026/09/sm-lee-uzbekistan-parliament/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Senior Minister Lee Hsien Loong wrapped up his visit to Uzbekistan, addressing the Oliy Majlis on August 31. He had been in Uzbekistan since August 27, following four days in Kazakhstan, after being invited by Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev. Lee spoke of his delight in visiting Uzbekistan, recalling how he had accepted the 2023 invitation and finally made it to the country after years of anticipation. Both Singapore and Uzbekistan share similarities, despite their vast differences in size and geography, as they both sit along critical trade routes connecting major regions of the world. Lee reflected on a meeting with Mirziyoyev when the Uzbek president visited Singapore in 2023, realizing that both nations face similar challenges and have much to gain from sharing experiences. Multilateral cooperation is crucial as Uzbekistan, like many countries, has benefited from the multilateral trading system and the rules-based international order. However, Lee cautioned against closing off from the world due to growing rivalries and tensions between major powers. He emphasized the importance of remaining open and outward-looking while seeking like-minded partners to uphold multilateral rules. In 2023, Singapore co-sponsored a UN resolution on Central Asia's environmental challenges, and Uzbekistan recently took the chairmanship of the Non-Aligned Movement. Lee welcomed Uzbekistan's early accession to ASEAN's Treaty of Amity and Cooperation, hoping other Central Asian states would join as well. Bilateral cooperation between Singapore and Uzbekistan could include free trade negotiations and an agribusiness facility in Tashkent. Singapore is also exploring shared challenges and opportunities, such as water management, fintech, and leadership and governance training programs. Lee stressed that smaller countries must continue to strengthen global, regional, and bilateral partnerships to navigate uncertainties and deliver better futures for their citizens.",
  "summary": "SM Lee said the two countries had many opportunities to cooperate at a global, region to region, and bilateral level.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}