The President of Uzbekistan spoke at the second meeting of the leaders of Central Asia and the European Union.
At the summit held on Friday in Cholpon-Ata, Shavkat Mirziyoyev identified priority areas for mutually beneficial cooperation.
In order to radically expand trade relations with the European Union, the President of Uzbekistan noted the interest in creating sustainable trade and logistics chains and effective mechanisms to support mutual supplies, extending the GSP+ trade regime with the expansion of this regime to the countries of the region. It was also proposed to develop a comprehensive program to support exporters and importers of the countries of the region.
The importance was also pointed out to combine efforts to develop the transport and communication interconnectedness of Central Asia and Europe, primarily through the formation of the so-called Middle Route – the Trans-Caspian transit corridor.
In the field of investment and technological partnership, the President of Uzbekistan proposed to consider the issue of holding annual industrial and technological exhibitions within the framework of the Economic Forum “Central Asia – European Union”.
Taking into account modern realities, it was also proposed to launch, together with the European Investment Bank, special instruments of financial support for the creation of production capacities of leading European companies in the countries of Central Asia.
In the area of digital connectivity, an initiative was launched to develop a joint “Digital Agenda for Central Asia” with the involvement of the “Team Europe” mechanism.
Shavkat Mirziyoyev also dwelled on countering climate change and improving the sustainability of ecosystems through the implementation of targeted regional projects using advanced European knowledge and technologies.
“Given the urgency of the problem, we invite the European Union to co-organize the first International Climate Forum, which will be held this autumn as part of the Samarkand Solidarity Initiative for Common Security and Prosperity,” the President suggested.
In order to actively use the tourism potential of Central Asia, Shavkat Mirziyoyev put forward an initiative to jointly develop a program to promote the development of sustainable tourism for the region and present it at the anniversary session of the General Assembly of the World Tourism Organization, which will be held in October this year in Uzbekistan.
Given the importance of investing in the education of young people, the president proposed establishing partnerships with leading universities in the EU countries and introducing joint educational programs.
Shavkat Mirziyoyev also called for the resumption of regular meetings of education ministers and university rectors, expanding support for research and educational projects for the Central Asian region within the Horizon Europe Program.
It was also proposed to hold an expert conference “Central Asia – the European Union: a new agenda for cooperation in the field of security”.
The President drew special attention to the rapidly deteriorating humanitarian situation in Afghanistan, in connection with which he called on partners not to reduce the volume of humanitarian assistance to the Afghan people and expressed his readiness to provide the infrastructure of the logistics hub in Termez for these purposes.
It was also proposed to continue regular consultations of special representatives for Afghanistan to develop common approaches to solving topical issues of resolving the situation and peaceful development of this country.
The President of Uzbekistan also expressed gratitude for the support of the initiative to hold the first official summit in the “Central Asia – EU” format in Uzbekistan next year.
