The first EU-Central Asia summit opens in Samarkand on April 3
02.04.2025 | 15:35 |On April 3rd, the inaugural summit between the European Union and Central Asia will commence in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, as reported by Euronews.
The President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, has stated her intention to elevate the EU's partnership with the region to a new level.
"For Europe, Central Asia is a partner of choice. At the summit, we will deepen trade ties and expand cooperation in the areas of transport, critical raw materials, digital connectivity, water resources, and energy" she said.
The High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Kaja Kallas, who recently visited Turkmenistan in preparation for the summit, commented on the upcoming event: "This will be an important milestone in our relations, and we attach great importance to the success of this summit".
During a meeting in Ashgabat, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Turkmenistan, Rashid Meredov, stated that integrated cooperation between Central Asia and the European Union is one of the most important strategic vectors for the development of events in Eurasia.
The EU is the region's second-largest trading partner and its largest investor.
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