The first-ever summit between the European Union (EU) and the five Central Asian nations—Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan - began today in Samarkand, Uzbekistan.
The summit brings together the Presidents of the European Council, António Costa, and the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, along with the leadership of Central Asia, including Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev.
The summit is seen as a key moment to intensify relations between the two regions, particularly in areas such as trade, energy, security, and environmental cooperation. The leaders are set to discuss how to enhance connectivity, boost trade ties, address regional security challenges, and cooperate on green transition efforts.
EU Special Representative Eduards Stiprais highlighted the importance of the summit, emphasizing that Central Asia, with its strategic position at the heart of Eurasia, plays a vital role in promoting East-West and North-South connectivity. He also pointed out that the EU has been a major trading partner for the region, contributing about 40% of all foreign direct investment in Central Asia.
The EU has committed €550 million through its Global Gateway initiative to improve infrastructure and facilitate smoother trade routes. Stiprais noted the focus on critical raw materials and renewable energy, which are central to the green transition. "Critical raw materials are the new critical area," he remarked, underscoring the EU’s interest in securing resources for its green economy.
Energy cooperation is another area of focus at the summit, with the EU and Central Asia exploring ways to collaborate on energy security, including nuclear energy. While nuclear power remains a debated issue within the EU, Stiprais emphasized the importance of safety and the careful handling of nuclear technology.
The summit also aligns with the broader goals set out in the EU’s 2019 strategy on Central Asia and the joint roadmap for deepening ties adopted in 2023. As relations between the EU and Central Asia continue to evolve, the summit serves as a vital opportunity to further advance multilateral cooperation and strengthen political and economic partnerships.
In addition to bilateral talks, Presidents Costa and von der Leyen are also participating in the Samarkand International Climate Forum, which aims to tackle global and regional threats posed by climate change, with an emphasis on sustainable development.
The leaders are expected to issue a joint statement at the conclusion of the summit, highlighting the key areas of cooperation and outlining the next steps for furthering EU-Central Asia relations.
Iranian authorities have taken steps to disrupt access to Starlink satellite internet, according to users and digital-rights groups, in what appears t...
Deaths linked to nationwide protests in Iran have risen to more than 500, according to a U.S.-based rights group HRANA, as Tehran warned it would reta...
Israel has sharply escalated its warnings to Lebanon amid rising regional tensions linked to Iran, according to a report by the Lebanese newspaper Nid...
A U-Haul box truck has plowed into a crowd of people in Los Angeles showing support for Iranian protesters on Sunday....
Start your day informed with AnewZ Morning Brief: here are the top news stories for the 12th of January, covering the latest developments you need to ...
Japan's cabinet has approved a record-high $785 billion budget for the next fiscal year - including the largest allocation for defence spending ever.
From the invasion of Ukraine to today’s border ceasefire in Southeast Asia, the global security architecture has undergone a period of unprecedented strain.
The foreign ministers of Cambodia and Thailand have told Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi that they are willing to pursue a ceasefire, as tensions flared along parts of the two countries’ shared border.
Police and paramilitary forces have been deployed across Bangladesh after violent protests erupted overnight over the killing of a prominent youth leader, raising concerns of further unrest ahead of national elections.
Timothée Chalamet won the Golden Globe for best male actor in a musical or comedy on Sunday for his role in Marty Supreme, beating strong competition in one of the night’s most closely watched categories.
Bob Weir, the rhythm guitarist, songwriter and co-founder of the Grateful Dead, has died at the age of 78, his family has said.
Hawaii’s Kīlauea volcano is showing increased activity, with lava flowing from two summit craters and flames, smoke and ash rising from the caldera.
Despite facing challenges in chip manufacturing, Chinese artificial intelligence (AI) researchers are optimistic about narrowing the technological gap with the United States, driven by an increasing culture of risk-taking and innovation.
The United States’ actions in Venezuela have clearly demonstrated not only that Latin America remains firmly in Washington’s geopolitical orbit, but also that the U.S. is the only global superpower.
Israel has sharply escalated its warnings to Lebanon amid rising regional tensions linked to Iran, according to a report by the Lebanese newspaper Nida Al Watan.
An extraordinary meeting of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) has been held to reaffirm support for Somalia’s sovereignty, with Azerbaijan’s Deputy Foreign Minister Yalchin Rafiyev taking part amid concern over moves to recognise the breakaway region of Somaliland.
Azerbaijan has shipped 979 tonnes of fuel to Armenia, the latest delivery in a series of petroleum exports between the two neighbouring countries.
A protester briefly replaced the flag of the Islamic Republic of Iran at its embassy in London with a pre-1979 version during an anti-government demonstration on Saturday, witnesses said.
Iran’s parliament met in an emergency session on Sunday as nationwide protests continued, with rights groups reporting more than 110 deaths.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment