February 10th, 2023 - The Ambassador of Uzbekistan to the United States, Canada, and Brazil, His Excellency Javlon Vakhabov, visited Yale University on Friday.
In a visit arranged by the student group Asian Crossroads at Yale (ACY) and sponsored by the Jackson School of Global Affairs, Ambassador Vakhabov met with Yale’s Director for Asia, Jieun Pyun, to discuss opening formal relations between the university and the Republic of Uzbekistan.
Speaking with Ms. Pyun and the leadership of ACY, Ambassador Vakhabov underscored his country’s desire to cement ties with the university as Uzbekistan looks to reform its educational system and boost student engagement in STEM. Additionally, he lauded the accomplishments of the first-ever undergraduate student from Uzbekistan, Umid Usmanov ‘25, as well as its second, Rustam Nuriev ‘26.
Ms. Pyun, in turn, noted the university administration’s goal of expanding its footprint in Asia and praised student involvement in facilitating the start of a Yale-Uzbekistan dialogue, thanking ACY co-founders Umid Usmanov ‘25 and Jedidiah Devillers ‘25 for their efforts.
Following the meeting with Ms. Pyun, Ambassador Vakhabov was treated to a private lunch with members of ACY before preparing for his policy dialogue with Lester Crown Professor Jeffrey A. Sonnenfeld entitled “Charting a Course for Uzbekistan in 2023.” Co-moderated by Professor Sonnenfeld and Assistant Professor Claire Roosien, the talk touched on the evolution of Uzbekistan’s diplomatic relations with the United States and the economic shocks that the Russian invasion of Ukraine brought to the region.
The ambassador’s visit concluded with a tour of Yale given by Mr. Usmanov, Mr. Devillers, and Mr. Nuriev. Ambassador Vakhabov was profoundly grateful for the opportunity to visit Yale, expressing his desire to continue engaging with the university and the student body and ending his visit on a promising note for the future of the fledgling Yale-Uzbekistan connection.