Speech by the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev at the first summit “Central Asia – European Union”

Dear heads delegations!

Dear ladies and gentlemen!

I am pleased to welcome you to the first Central Asia - European Union Summit.

I would like to express special gratitude to the President of the European Council, Mr. António Costa, President of the European Commission Mrs. Ursula von der Leyen, all my colleagues - the leaders of the countries of the region for supporting our initiative to hold the summit here, in ancient Samarkand.

For centuries, this illustrious city, located at the crossroads of the main roads of the Great Silk Road, was an important center for the dialogue of civilizations, diplomatic, trade and cultural exchange between East and West.

There are many historical facts confirming this. Thus, it was from here that the ruler of Transoxiana, Amir Temur, more than six centuries ago established active contacts with European monarchs in order to ensure free and safe trade.

I cannot help but note the contribution of our great scientists and thinkers - Khorezmi, Ferghani, Beruni, Avicenna, Ulugbek and others to the development of world science and philosophy, including in Europe.

And today I would like to emphasize with satisfaction that our relations, which have deep roots, are dynamically developing and strengthening in modern conditions.

The open, constructive and productive meetings that took place the day before once again showed the presence of political will and determination to deepen partnership and practical cooperation in the interests of our countries and regions.

Once again I express my gratitude to the heads of the main institutions of the European Union for their understanding and full support of the processes of integration and sustainable development in Central Asia.

I am also glad to see in this room our traditional partners - the President of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, Ms. Renaud-Basso and representatives of the European Investment Bank.

I consider the key role of these financial institutions in promoting the objectives and decisions of today's summit, held under the motto “Investing in the future.”

In this context, I would like to note that eight years ago, Uzbekistan’s relations with the EBRD were frozen. And today we are the largest beneficiary of this bank.

Dear colleagues!

Our ministers and experts, following the meeting in Ashgabat, prepared an agenda for the summit, which covers all the main areas of multifaceted cooperation.

Today we will also take part together in the plenary session of Samarkand climate forum dedicated to modern environmental challenges faced by Central Asia.

Dear heads of delegations!

Our meeting is taking place in the context of dynamic and unpredictable global processes. We are witnessing increasing geopolitical tensions, security problems, major regional conflicts, social and economic challenges to sustainable development.

It is obvious that no region alone, without broad international cooperation, will be able to resolve such difficult issues. In this regard, I would like to emphasize that Central Asia and the European Union are traditional partners, and the demand for close cooperation is only growing.

We share the commitment of the European side to the principles and norms of international law.

We welcome and fully support the start of the negotiation process for a peaceful resolution of the situation around Ukraine. We understand that very complex and difficult issues remain to be resolved. But we do not see any other alternative to the ongoing diplomatic efforts and political solution.

Dear colleagues!

The development of our multifaceted cooperation is facilitated by the profound transformation in Central Asia, which, thanks to the common political will, has become sustainable and irreversible.

Trust and trust are strengthening between the countries of the region good neighborliness, full-scale cooperation and cooperation are expanding.

Seven or eight years ago there were not even prerequisites for this. The borders between individual countries were closed. There was no trade, no transit, no business, no humanitarian exchanges. Relations were simply frozen.

No one could then imagine that in the very near future we would jointly represent the region in negotiations with European leaders.

I would like to emphasize that the openness of Central Asia and its readiness for mutually beneficial cooperation with all partners have become the most important condition for ensuring the security and prosperity of the region.

In September of this year, we will hold the seventh Consultative Meeting of the Heads of State of our region in Tashkent, on the platform of which we will openly and constructively solve all the current tasks of the joint agenda.

I would like to separately note the historical event that took place on the eve of today's summit. We are talking about a complete settlement and signing of agreements on the delimitation of the State border between Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan.

Once again I sincerely congratulate my respected colleagues Emomali Sharipovich Rakhmon and Sadyr Nurgozhoevich Japarov.

It should be noted that we are together We are implementing large investment and infrastructure projects in the region. At the same time, joint investment funds and companies operate to support such projects. Intraregional trade is increasing. In order to stimulate it, cross-border trade zones are being created.

I would like to emphasize that all this contributes to the sustainable economic development of our countries and the region as a whole.

EBRD experts predict regional GDP growth this year to six percent, which is noticeably higher than the average in other regions.

Particularly in Uzbekistan sustainable economic development is ensured through industrialization, investment in infrastructure, economic liberalization and business support.

I would especially like to note the joint work to form a common regional identity, as well as support for cultural, humanitarian and educational exchange.

We are opening branches of leading national educational institutions in our countries. We are promoting the project of a single Central Asian visa for foreign tourists.

Dear heads of delegations!

Our first summit is a logical continuation of two meetings between the leaders of Central Asia and the European Union, which were successfully held in Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan. These contacts have become useful for understanding mutual interests and determining common directions for partnership.

I would like to note that in recent years there has been a noticeable intensification of interaction with the European Union. Over seven years, the trade turnover of the Central Asian countries with the EU has increased several times, amounting to 54 billion euros.

Effective cooperation platforms have been launched. Ministerial meetings, forums, summits and conferences are held regularly in all key areas. At the same time, I believe that the current meeting should become the “starting point” of a new stage in the development of multifaceted relations.

In this regard, I would like to present our vision of the priorities for further joint work in the medium and long term.

First. These are efforts and investments in strengthening political dialogue, the legal and institutional framework of multilateral cooperation.

Following the summit, a historic decision will be made to establish a strategic partnership between Central Asia and the European Union.

We consider it necessary to jointly develop and take comprehensive measures aimed at the practical implementation of the provisions of the adopted document.

I am convinced that our strategic partnership should be filled with specific decisions, projects and programs.

In this regard, we propose to consider the issue of signing a full-fledged Partnership and Cooperation Agreement between our two regions.

We also advocate holding regular meetings of the heads of foreign affairs departments to “synchronize watches” on the international and regional agenda, intensifying inter-parliamentary connections and the establishment of the Forum of Interparliamentary Cooperation “Central Asia - EU” with the organization of the first event this fall in Uzbekistan, expanding cooperation between leading think tanks.

We fully support the proposal to hold the summit every two years.

In order to systematically work to ensure the timely implementation of agreements, we are ready to take on the functions of the summit secretariat until the next meeting.

Second. The priority dimension of our interaction should be investments in economic and technological modernization.

In early June, in partnership with the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, we will hold the Tashkent Investment Forum. At this event, they intend to present a current portfolio of projects with leading European companies and banks worth over 30 billion euros.

It must be emphasized that today all business “captains”, industrial and innovative leaders of Europe are successfully working in Uzbekistan and other countries in the region. These include the corporations TOTAL, Siemens, Linde, Airbus, BASF, IDF, Orano, OTP Group and many others.

We propose to hold a separate session on “Investment opportunities in two regions” during the forum.

There we also plan to hold a presentation of the Concept of a regional Industrial Park for European companies in Uzbekistan.

I am confident that the Agreement on the opening of an office of the European Investment Bank in Tashkent, signed yesterday, will stimulate the influx of direct investment into Central Asia from EU countries.

We count on support from European partners for another initiative - the launch of an Investment Platform for promoting large regional projects in the field of green energy, innovation, transport, infrastructure and the agricultural sector.

In addition, we are putting forward a number of new proposals to bring together the economic interests of our countries.

This is primarily the conclusion of a multilateral Agreement on the Protection and Promotion of Investments, the launch of a joint Chamber of Commerce "Central Asia - EU" with the broad involvement of representatives of the private sector, the adoption of a joint regional program to support small and medium-sized business projects, primarily women's entrepreneurship.

We are ready to host the next Economic Forum and Investor Forum on Transport Connectivity in Uzbekistan.

It is also important to expand the technical assistance of the European Union to increase the potential of our exporters, create laboratories and centers for standardization and certification.

Third. During the summit, a decision will be made on deepening cooperation and investment in the field of critical mineral resources.

It should be noted that Uzbekistan has extensive positive experience of cooperation with leading European companies in the field of geological exploration and development of deposits of strategic raw materials, the creation of high-tech production facilities for their deep processing.

We We intend to fully support the deepening of mutually beneficial cooperation with the European Union in this direction.

The main obstacle is the lack of effective transport corridors for the delivery of these products, as well as finished industrial and agricultural goods to the European market. In particular, it is necessary to develop coordinated measures and favorable conditions for business to expand and load the Trans-Caspian transport corridor.

I am confident that these tasks are fully consistent with the goals of the pan-European Global Gateway program.

In this regard, we propose to convene, under the auspices of the European Union, a meeting of the transport ministers of the countries along this route to develop coordinated approaches.

Fourth. Investments in green energy and environmental sustainability are becoming strategically important.

Uzbekistan fully supports the international project to supply electricity from the Central Asian region to Europe. On the eve of the summit, we ratified the corresponding agreement on the implementation of this project.

It should be noted that by 1930 we plan to increase the share of renewable energy in the country’s energy balance to 54 percent and introduce 24 thousand megawatts of “green” capacity.

An important platform for interaction can be created with the launch of the Central Asia – Partnership EU" on "clean" energy.

To work out the financing of projects and the development of the "carbon credits" market, we also propose to establish a Working Group at the level of heads of relevant departments.

During the planned Climate Forum, we will present the Concept of "green" development of the region.

Fifth. Investments in human capital will expand educational, cultural and humanitarian exchange.

Achieving this goal can be facilitated by the introduction of special quotas for countries in the region as part of the Erasmus Plus program for the training of highly qualified specialists.

We are ready to open an office of the Horizon - Europe program in Uzbekistan to expand scientific and educational cooperation with the countries of Central Asia.

In addition, we propose to develop a joint Scientific and Technological Exchange Program in the field of artificial intelligence, big data, digitalization and space research.

Uzbekistan also takes initiatives to include the countries of the region in the European Action Program in the field of digital education, the implementation of the “road map” of partnership between the leading universities of Central Asia and the European Union.

A striking example of cooperation in the cultural sphere was the production with the participation of European specialists of the national ballet "Lazgi".

Exhibitions of the historical heritage of Central Asia were successfully held in Europe Asia in such major museums as the Louvre, the New Museum of Berlin and the World Museum of Vienna.

During the upcoming UNESCO General Conference this fall here in Samarkand, which will be held outside of Paris for the first time in forty years, we would like to further familiarize all our foreign partners with the rich culture and art of the peoples of the region.

This year we also plan to hold the first tourism forum “Central Asia - European Union” in Bukhara.

We count on the assistance of European partners in implementing the concept of “One tour - the entire region” based on the implementation of the experience of EU countries, as well as in considering the issue of simplifying the visa regime for tourists from our region.

Dear heads of delegations!

The relevance of cooperation in the fight against common security threats, including terrorism, extremism, radicalism, cybercrime, drug trafficking and illegal migration is growing.

We support the proposal of European partners to launch a dialogue on counter-terrorism issues.

We also consider it important to expand practical interaction within the framework of the BOMCA and CADAP programs.

We are ready to continue political consultations on the peaceful development of Afghanistan. Unfortunately, the world community underestimates all the challenges emanating from the territory of this country.

We consider it necessary to actively involve the Afghan side in regional economic processes, including through the implementation of investment and infrastructure projects, and the restoration of the social sector. We hope for understanding and support of the importance of establishing a constructive dialogue between the international community and the current Afghan authorities in order to fulfill their obligations.

Dear participants of the summit!

In conclusion of my speech, I would like to especially note the importance of introducing mechanisms for the practical implementation of our initiatives and agreements.

In this regard, we believe It would be appropriate to establish a Partnership Committee at the level of deputy prime ministers in the “Central Asia – EU” format with annual meetings.

Dear friends!

I express my deep gratitude to all of you for the open, trusting and constructive dialogue.

I am confident that the leaders of leading European institutions and financial organizations are convinced that Central Asia stands on common ground and is ready for full-scale cooperation as a reliable and responsible partner.

I congratulate you all on the historic decision to establish a strategic partnership between our two regions.

For the practical implementation of all achieved agreements and initiatives put forward, I propose that the summit secretariat, together with experts, prepare a “road map” within a month, which we could approve in working order.

Thank you for your attention.

Official website of the President of the Republic Uzbekistan