SAMARKAND, Uzbekistan -- Uzbekistan's efforts to forge improved relations with its neighbors -- representing a sharp turnaround from its past isolationism -- could significantly increase Central Asia's influence on the international stage.
Earlier this month, Uzbekistan hosted an international conference on security in Samarkand, the country's second-largest city. During the two-day meeting, President Shavkat Mirziyoyev proposed to regularly hold regional summit meetings among the five Central Asian nations.
