Speaking at the first-ever “Central Asia – European Union” Summit in Samarkand, President Shavkat Mirziyoyev highlighted the need to strengthen ties between the two regions, calling for deeper cooperation in politics, trade, energy, the environment, and culture.

Welcoming European Council President António Costa, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, and fellow Central Asian leaders, President Mirziyoyev opened by noting the symbolic value of Samarkand—long a crossroads of diplomacy and trade during the era of the Silk Road—as the host of the summit.

“For many centuries, this renowned city was an important center for dialogue of civilizations, diplomatic, trade, and cultural exchanges between the East and the West,” said Mirziyoyev, invoking the legacy of Amir Temur and scholars like Avicenna and Ulugbek in shaping global knowledge, including in Europe.

Highlighting the regional transformation over the past several years, Mirziyoyev recalled a time when borders between Central Asian nations were closed and interregional trade was stagnant. 

“No one could even imagine that we would now be representing our region together during discussions with European leaders,” he said.

He praised the historic agreement between Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan to fully settle their border delimitation issues, calling it a “historical event” that sets a positive example for regional unity and cooperation.

Toward a Strategic Partnership

The summit, themed “Investing in the Future,” was positioned by the Uzbek leader as a launching point for a more institutionalized and strategic relationship between Central Asia and the EU.

Uzbekistan proposed several initiatives to anchor this partnership:

• Adoption of a full-scale Partnership and Cooperation Agreement between Central Asia and the EU.
• Establishment of a “Central Asia – EU” Interparliamentary Forum, with the first meeting to be held in Uzbekistan this autumn.
• Regular foreign ministers’ meetings and expanded cooperation among regional think tanks.

Uzbekistan also offered to act as the Summit’s Secretariat until the next meeting.

Furthermore, Mirziyoyev emphasized the growing role of European companies in the region, with major firms such as Total, Siemens, Airbus, and BASF already active in Uzbekistan. The upcoming Tashkent Investment Forum, organized with the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), will showcase over €30bn in regional investment opportunities.

He proposed the creation of a Central Asia–EU Chamber of Commerce, a multilateral investment protection agreement, and a joint program to support small and medium-sized enterprises, including women-led businesses.

The president also announced the development of a Regional Industrial Park in Uzbekistan specifically for European companies.

Connectivity, Green Energy, and Raw Materials

Transport connectivity featured prominently, with Mirziyoyev calling for coordinated development of the Trans-Caspian Corridor, vital for trade between Central Asia and Europe. He proposed a meeting of Transport Ministers under EU auspices to accelerate coordination.

Uzbekistan, committed to increasing renewables to 54% of its energy mix by 2030, welcomed deeper EU engagement in green energy. The country ratified an agreement to supply electricity from Central Asia to Europe and proposed creating a Central Asia–EU Partnership on Clean Energy, including a working group on carbon credit markets and climate finance.

Uzbekistan also expressed readiness to strengthen cooperation with the EU on the exploration and processing of critical raw materials, citing ongoing successful projects with European firms.

Investing in Human Capital and Culture

The Uzbek leader stressed the role of education and cultural exchange in binding the two regions. He proposed:

• Special quotas under the Erasmus+ program for Central Asian students.
• Establishing a “Horizon Europe” office in Uzbekistan.
• Launching a scientific exchange program in areas such as AI, digital transformation, and space studies.
• A roadmap for collaboration between Central Asian and European universities.

Mirziyoyev also lauded cultural initiatives, including European-backed performances of the Uzbek ballet “Lazgi” and exhibitions of Central Asian heritage at major European museums.

The president concluded by emphasizing that regular engagement through summits, ministerial meetings, and economic forums must become the norm in the partnership between Central Asia and the European Union.

“I believe that this meeting [Central Asia-EU Summit] should become the starting point of a new stage in the development of multi-faceted relations,” he affirmed, adding that Uzbekistan is ready to host the next Economic Forum and a Transport Connectivity Investors’ Forum.