Speech by the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan at the summit "Central Asia – European Union"

Dear Heads of Delegations,

Dear Ladies and Gentlemen!

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

I would like to express my special gratitude to the President of the European Council, Mr. António Costa, the President of the European Commission, Ms. Ursula von der Leyen, and 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, has been 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, established active contacts with European monarchs more than six centuries ago in order to ensure free and safe trade.

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

And today I am pleased to emphasise that our relations, which have deep roots, are dynamically developing and strengthening in modern conditions.

The open, constructive and productive meetings held yesterday once again showed the existence 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 our traditional partners in this hall – President of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development Ms. Renaud-Basso and representatives of the European Investment Bank.

I believe that the key role of these financial institutions in promoting the tasks and decisions of today's summit, which is being 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!

Following the meeting in Ashgabat, our ministers and experts prepared the agenda of the summit, which covers all the main areas of multifaceted cooperation.

Today we will also take part together in the plenary session of the 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 increased geopolitical tensions, security problems, major regional conflicts, social and economic challenges to sustainable development.

It is obvious that no region will be able to resolve such difficult issues on its own, without broad international cooperation. 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 on a peaceful settlement of the situation around Ukraine. We understand that there are very complex and difficult issues to be resolved. But we do not see any other alternative to the ongoing diplomatic efforts and a 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 stable and irreversible.

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

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

No one could have imagined then that in the very near future we would represent the region together 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 this year, we will hold the seventh Consultative Meeting of the Heads of State of our region in Tashkent, where we openly and constructively address all the pressing issues on the joint agenda.

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

Once again, I sincerely congratulate my esteemed colleagues Emomali Rahmon and Sadyr Japarov.

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

I would like to emphasise 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 significantly higher than the average in other regions.

In particular, in Uzbekistan, sustainable economic development is ensured through industrialization, investment in infrastructure, liberalization of the economy and business support.

I would like to note separately the joint work on the formation of 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 the two meetings of 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 areas of partnership.

I would like to note that in recent years there has been a noticeable intensification of cooperation with the European Union. Over seven years, the trade turnover of the Central Asian countries with the EU has grown 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 this meeting should become a "starting point" for 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 for multilateral cooperation.

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

We believe it is necessary to jointly develop and adopt 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 Agreement on Partnership and Cooperation between our two regions.

We also advocate holding regular meetings of the heads of foreign ministries to "compare notes" on the international and regional agenda, intensifying inter-parliamentary ties and establishing the Central Asia-EU Inter-Parliamentary Cooperation Forum with the organization of the first event this fall in Uzbekistan, expanding cooperation between leading think tanks.

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

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

Second. The priority dimension of our cooperation should be investment in economic and technological modernisation.

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 should be emphasized that today all the "captains" of business, industrial and innovative leaders of Europe are successfully working in Uzbekistan and other countries of the region. Among them are the corporations "TOTAL", "Siemens", "Linde", "Airbus", "BASF", "IDF", "Orano", "OTP Group" and many others.

We propose to hold a separate session on Investment Opportunities of the Two Regions during the forum.

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

I am confident that the Agreement signed yesterday on the opening of the European Investment Bank's office in Tashkent will stimulate the inflow of direct investment in Central Asia from the EU countries.

We hope that our European partners will support another initiative – the launch of an Investment Platform to promote major regional projects in the field of green energy, innovation, transport, infrastructure and the agricultural sector.

In addition, we come up with a number of new proposals to bring together the economic interests of our countries.

This is, first of all, the conclusion of a multilateral Agreement on the Protection and Promotion of Investments, the launch of a joint Central Asia-EU Chamber of Commerce with the wide 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 the Investor Forum on Transport Connectivity in Uzbekistan.

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

Third. During the summit, a decision will be made to deepen cooperation and invest in the field of critical mineral resources.

It should be noted that Uzbekistan has a great 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 industries for their deep processing.

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 business-friendly conditions for the expansion and loading of the Trans-Caspian transport corridor.

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

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

Fourth. Investments in green energy and environmental sustainability are of strategic importance.

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

It should be noted that by the thirtieth year, we plan to increase the share of renewable energy in the country's energy balance to 54 percent, to introduce 24 thousand megawatts of "green" capacities.

An important platform for interaction can be created with the launch of the Central Asia-EU Partnership on Clean Energy.

In order to work out the financing of projects and develop the carbon credit 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.

The introduction of special quotas for the countries of the region within the framework of the Erasmus Plus program for the training of highly qualified specialists can help to achieve this goal.

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 program of scientific and technological exchange in the field of artificial intelligence, big data, digitalization and space research.

Uzbekistan also comes up with initiatives to include the countries of the region in the European Action Program in the field of digital education, the implementation of the "roadmap" of partnership between the leading universities of Central Asian countries and the European Union.

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

In Europe, exhibitions of the historical heritage of Central Asia have been successfully held in such major museums as the Louvre, the New Museum of Berlin and the World Museum of Vienna.

During the upcoming UNESCO General Conference here in Samarkand this fall, which will be held outside Paris for the first time in forty years, we would like to 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 Central Asia-European Union tourism forum in Bukhara.

We count on the assistance of our European partners in implementing the "One Tour – Whole Region" concept based on the introduction of the experience of the EU countries, as well as in considering the issue of simplifying the visa regime for tourists from our region.

Dear Heads of Delegations,

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 our European partners to launch a dialogue on counter-terrorism.

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

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

We believe it is 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 for the importance of establishing a constructive dialogue between the international community and the current Afghan authorities in order to fulfil the commitments undertaken.

Dear summit participants!

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

In this regard, we consider it expedient 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 your open, trusting and constructive dialogue.

I am sure that the heads of leading European institutions and financial organizations are convinced that Central Asia acts from a common position and is ready for full-scale cooperation as a reliable and responsible partner.

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

In order to implement all the agreements reached and initiatives put forward, I suggest that the summit secretariat, together with experts, prepare a roadmap within a month, which we could approve in working order.

Thank you for your attention.