Uzbekistan's presidential election is set to take place on Sunday. It's the Central Asian country's seventh since its independence in the early 90s. Feng Yilei is closely following the developments in the capital city of Tashkent.

Uzbekistan is abuzz as Sunday's presidential election draws closer. Election authorities have created over 10,000 polling stations across the country.

In Tashkent, members of the election commission are working to get all premises ready, ahead of the polls opening.

They say holding fair elections, in which people are able to participate, is essential.

BOTIR USMONOV Chairman, 14th Constituency in Tashkent City "We train all the stuff how to provide citizen information about early election, how to work with procedures. They must follow the law on the election, law on political party. During the last 40 days, we work to organize, make transparent democratic process of this whole election."

FENG YILEI Tashkent, Uzbekistan "It appears evident that this upcoming important political event marks a decisive step into the future of the country and its people. The president's announcement for the country to hold elections ahead of schedule came shortly after Uzbek voters approved a package of constitutional amendments in a referendum, which defines the country as a sovereign, democratic state that upholds the rule of law."

AKMAL SAIDOV First Deputy Speaker, Legislative Chamber of Oliy Majlis "The new edition of the constitution of Uzbekistan reflects the changes in the new Uzbekistan. And the current early presidential elections are one such indicator of our democratic development, and the formation of a new Uzbekistan. I would say competitiveness, openness and the equality of all candidates clearly shows what has happened in Uzbekistan."

The official candidates for the presidency include incumbent President Shavkat Mirziyoyev from the Liberal Democratic Party, former Minister of Education Ulugbek Inoyatov from the People's Democratic Party, former First Deputy Chairman of the Supreme Court Robakhon Makhmudova from the Social Democratic Party, or "Adolat," and Abdushukur Khamzaev from the Ecological Party.

It's also the first time in the country's history that one party has supported a candidate from another party, with the "National Revival”Democratic Party backing the candidacy of the Liberal Democratic Party.

AKMAL SAIDOV First Deputy Speaker, Legislative Chamber of Oliy Majlis "The People's Democratic Party supports a welfare state. The Social Democratic Party, 'Adolat,' more supports the rule of law. The Ecological Party mainly pays attention to environmental issues. And the candidate of the Liberal Democratic Party focuses on the liberal economy, entrepreneurship, the development of property and so on. I was asked a question at a meeting the other day, 'Can the elected president use the ideas of other candidates?' I said yes! In principle, the elected president can rationally do anything that other candidates put forward."

The recent constitutional changes allow Mirziyoyev to run for two more terms and it extends each term to seven years from the previous five.

In his re-election campaign, he's promised to achieve sustainable economic growth, and double the country's gross domestic product to 160 billion U.S. dollars.

Experts says the country has undergone significant socio-economic reforms in recent years, leading to changes in people's lives.

DR. RASULOV NODIRBEK Head of Projects Institute of Macroeconomic and Territorial Developments "The opportunities for young people to study abroad have increased, and the number of foreign-owned enterprises in Uzbekistan has doubled in the past 6-7 years. This, in turn, has led to the entry of foreign technologists, modern specialists, and the competitiveness of the local population. The income of the population has doubled in the last 6-7 years."

Mirziyoyev has vowed to continue the policy of opening up the country, aiming to boost foreign investment and tourism. He's also promised more support for the families of hundreds of thousands of Uzbeks who work abroad. Feng Yilei, CGTN, Tashkent, Uzbekistan.

CGTN