The first Central Asia-EU Summit has strengthened regional ties, focusing on cooperation in counter-terrorism, trade, energy, and climate change. Leaders committed to supporting stability and development, with significant investments planned for infrastructure and sustainability.
The inaugural Central Asia-EU Summit concluded on Friday in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, with the signing of a joint declaration that raised the relationship between the two regions to the level of a strategic partnership. The declaration affirmed the strengthening of cooperation in response to shifting geopolitical challenges.
Both parties reaffirmed their commitment to upholding international law, the UN Charter, and the sovereignty and territorial integrity of all nations, with a particular focus on peacefully resolving conflicts, including advocating for a just peace in Ukraine.
The summit participants agreed to initiate a dialogue on counter-terrorism and violent extremism, concentrating on issues such as cybersecurity, border security, threats from chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear weapons, as well as efforts to combat radicalisation and human trafficking.
The situation in Afghanistan was also discussed, with both sides expressing a commitment to supporting a peaceful and inclusive Afghanistan. The importance of advancing women's rights, education, and humanitarian assistance was also highlighted.
Additionally, the EU and Central Asian nations agreed to enhance collaboration in preventing the circumvention of sanctions, particularly in relation to the re-export of high-priority goods.
Progress in resolving the Kyrgyz-Tajik border dispute was acknowledged, along with efforts by Central Asian countries to deepen integration with EU support.
The summit participants also committed to boosting trade, investment, and energy transition cooperation, in line with the EU’s Global Gateway Strategy. The EU pledged €10 billion ($11.04 billion) in investments to improve transport and infrastructure, particularly along the Trans-Caspian and Middle Corridors.
Climate change was another key topic, with all Central Asian states joining the Global Methane Pledge and agreeing to collaborate with the EU on water management, the restoration of the Aral Sea, and sustainable development in mountainous regions.
The implementation of the summit’s outcomes will be monitored through the EU-Central Asia Civil Society Forum and future ministerial meetings.
The summit was attended by the leaders of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Turkmenistan, while the EU was represented by European Council President Antonio Costa and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen.
Donald Trump’s special envoy Steve Witkoff and senior adviser Jared Kushner will travel to Islamabad on Saturday for Pakistan-mediated talks ...
The ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon will be lengthened by three weeks, U.S. President Donald Trump said in a post on social media website...
Iran is pursuing a dual-track strategy in the Strait of Hormuz, balancing cooperation with South Korea while increasing military pressure, as tensi...
Around 14% of Central Asia’s population - about 12 million people - are facing food shortages, according to the United Nations. The...
The U.S. and the European Union are set to sign a memorandum of understanding on Friday to establish a partnership on the procurement and productio...
Central Asian countries and Russia have launched a new platform for industrial cooperation, signalling a shift from traditional trade ties towards deeper production integration.
Five Central Asian states are launching a $30 million programme to tackle water scarcity and land degradation, as climate pressures and rising demand sharpen risks across the region.
Afghanistan and Uzbekistan have agreed to strengthen research and policy cooperation following a roundtable in Tashkent focused on trade, connectivity and regional ties, according to official statements from both sides.
Kazakhstan has reported a sharp fall in oil production, with both output and exports declining in the first quarter of the year, according to government officials. The drop is now affecting the structure of economic growth, even as the country records 3% GDP growth.
The U.S. military has intercepted at least three Iranian-flagged tankers in Asian waters and is redirecting them away from their positions near India, Malaysia and Sri Lanka, shipping and security sources said on Wednesday, exclusively to Reuters.
Iran’s Revolutionary Guards targeted three vessels, seizing two of them for alleged maritime violations and transferring them to Iranian shores, as U.S. President Donald Trump said Washington is extending its ceasefire with Iran until Tehran submits a proposal.
Two local trains collided head-on north of Copenhagen on Thursday (23 April), injuring 17 people, five of them critically, according to emergency services.
The U.S. military is redirecting at least three Iranian-flagged tankers after intercepting them in Asian waters near India, Malaysia and Sri Lanka, shipping and security sources said on Wednesday. Meanwhile, Tehran said U.S. breaches, blockades and threats are undermining “genuine negotiations.”
The European Union is preparing its 20th round of sanctions against Russia over the war in Ukraine. The measures are close to being approved, after earlier delays linked to energy concerns in Slovakia and Hungary eased following repairs to the Druzhba oil pipeline.
China has urged the European Union to take its concerns seriously over new cybersecurity and digital regulations, warning they could create difficulties for Chinese companies operating in Europe.
Russia and Ukraine have swapped prisoners of war, according to officials on both sides. Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said 193 prisoners, including soldiers and border guards, had been returned from Russia, some injured and facing criminal charges.
Türkiye and the United Kingdom on Thursday signed a wide-ranging strategic partnership agreement to boost bilateral cooperation, especially in defence. The deal, signed in London, signals a “new era” in relations between the two NATO allies.
The U.S. and the European Union are set to sign a memorandum of understanding on Friday to establish a partnership on the procurement and production of critical minerals, the U.S. State Department confirmed late on Thursday.
Russian emergency services have contained a major fire at the Tuapse oil refinery on the Black Sea coast, local officials said on Thursday, ending a four-day effort after a Ukrainian drone strike.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment