The leaders of Uzbekistan and the EU advocated for a radical expansion of economic cooperation
On April 3, on the sidelines of the Samarkand Summit, the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan, Shavkat Mirziyoyev, held a meeting with the President of the European Council, Antonio Costa, and the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, who are visiting our country.
The discussions focused on the further development and deepening of Uzbek-European multifaceted cooperation, primarily in trade, economic, and investment spheres.
Active contacts and productive exchanges at various levels, as well as effective work within institutional mechanisms for practical cooperation, were highlighted with particular satisfaction. An agreement on enhanced partnership and cooperation is being prepared for signing.
The trade turnover between Uzbekistan and the EU countries is growing dynamically. The portfolio of investment projects with leading European companies exceeds 30 billion euros. Our country is a major beneficiary of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, and a regional office of the European Investment Bank is opening in Tashkent.
The heads of the main EU institutions highly appreciated and expressed strong support for the ongoing economic reforms aimed at building a New Uzbekistan, as well as the policies aimed at strengthening good neighborliness, trust, and partnership in Central Asia.
The negotiations focused on advancing joint programs and cooperation projects in the fields of innovation, green energy, mining, agriculture, transportation, logistics, digitalization, and other areas.
The importance of continuing active exchanges in tourism, culture, science, education, and healthcare was emphasized.
The agenda of the upcoming first high-level summit in the "Central Asia – European Union" format and the prospects for enhancing the interconnection between the two regions within the framework of the European strategy "Global Gateways" were also discussed.
There was also an exchange of views on current issues in international and regional politics, including on supporting the socio-economic development of Afghanistan.
