CSEES was excited to host a delegation from the Embassy of Uzbekistan to campus on Tuesday, November 19^th. Ambassador Javlon Vakhabov led the visit, with Rukhullo Zikrillaev, the trade and economic counselor, also in attendance. The visit started with a joint class of the first- and second-year Uzbek language courses. Students prepared presentations, with first-year students presenting on their families, while second-year students presented on their interests and connection to the region. Embassy staff were amazed at abilities of the students and teaching skills of instructor Kamola Azimova! At the end of the class, the ambassador spoke to the students about the changes taking place in Uzbekistan and his government’s short-, medium-, and long-term goals. At the end, students were presented with copies of the book Uzbekistan’s New Face.

Following the Uzbek language course, embassy staff met with representatives of the College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences (CFAES). CFAES faculty and staff have had collaborations with researchers from Uzbekistan for several years through joint research projects, exchanges, and publications. The ambassador indicated throughout his visit that a key goal of the Uzbek government is to continue economic reforms and encourage foreign investment in his country, as well as to establish and strengthen international partnerships especially in the higher education sector and modernizing the agricultural sector. During the afternoon, the Uzbek delegation met with leaders from the Area Studies Centers, the Office of International Affairs, and key faculty involved in Central Asian studies. To conclude the visit, Universities Libraries hosted a viewing in the Special Collections Reading Room of rare books and manuscripts in the library’s collection from Central Asia, as well as materials in the larger circulating collection, including newly acquired materials and recent publications from Ohio State faculty. University Libraries has close to 2,000 items about Uzbekistan or the Uzbek language specifically.