Photo: Press Service of the President of Uzbekistan
Speaking at the opening of the first Central Asia–European Union summit, President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev outlined five strategic priorities for medium- and long-term cooperation between the two regions. His remarks were shared by the presidential press service.
1. Strengthening Political Dialogue and Legal Frameworks
Mirziyoyev emphasized the need for greater investment in political dialogue and in the legal and institutional foundations of multilateral cooperation.
A historic decision is set to be adopted at the summit to establish a strategic partnership between Central Asia and the European Union.
«I am convinced that our strategic partnership must be filled with concrete solutions, projects, and programs,» Mirziyoyev stated.
He proposed that the parties consider signing a comprehensive Partnership and Cooperation Agreement, and suggested regular meetings at both the diplomatic and interparliamentary levels. The Uzbek leader supported the idea of convening such summits biennially and offered for Uzbekistan to host the summit secretariat until the next session.
2. Economic and Technological Modernization
A second priority, according to Mirziyoyev, is investment in economic and technological modernization.
«In early June, in partnership with the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, we will hold the Tashkent Investment Forum,» he said. «We plan to present a current project portfolio with leading European companies and banks worth over €30 billion."
Major European corporations such as Total, Siemens, Linde, Airbus, BASF, and Orano are already active in Uzbekistan and across the region.
Mirziyoyev proposed a dedicated session at the forum on investment opportunities between the two regions, along with a presentation of a regional industrial park concept in Uzbekistan for European firms.
He added that the recent agreement to open a European Investment Bank office in Tashkent will serve as a catalyst for increased direct investment from the EU.
Uzbekistan is also prepared to host the next Economic Forum and an Investors’ Forum on Transport Connectivity.
3. Critical Raw Materials and Supply Chains
The third priority is deepening cooperation in the area of critical mineral resources.
Uzbekistan has substantial experience collaborating with leading European firms in geological exploration and the development of high-tech production for processing strategic raw materials. Mirziyoyev pledged to expand mutually beneficial cooperation with the EU in this sector.
A key challenge, he noted, is the lack of effective transport corridors for delivering these resources, as well as finished industrial and agricultural goods, to the European market—an issue aligned with the goals of the EU’s Global Gateway initiative.
4. Green Energy and Environmental Sustainability
Mirziyoyev stressed the strategic importance of investment in renewable energy and environmental sustainability.
Uzbekistan fully supports an international project to supply electricity from Central Asia to Europe. A corresponding agreement was ratified shortly before the summit.
By 2030, Uzbekistan plans to increase its share of renewable energy to 54 percent of its energy mix and to commission 24,000 megawatts of green capacity.
“To develop project financing and a carbon credit market, we propose establishing a working group at the level of relevant ministries,” the president said.
5. Human Capital and Cultural Exchange
The fifth priority is investment in human capital through expanded educational and cultural cooperation.
This includes introducing special quotas for Central Asian countries under the Erasmus+ program to train highly qualified specialists.
Uzbekistan also proposed launching a joint scientific and technological exchange program in artificial intelligence, big data, digitalization, and space research.
Mirziyoyev highlighted the importance of cultural exchange, citing the production of the national ballet Lazgi with European choreographers as a notable success. He also pointed to recent exhibitions on Central Asia’s historical heritage in major European museums such as the Louvre, the Neues Museum in Berlin, and the Weltmuseum Wien.
Later this year, Bukhara will host the first Central Asia–EU Tourism Forum.
“We count on the support of our European partners to help implement the concept of ‘One Tour—One Region,’ drawing on the experience of EU countries, and to consider simplifying visa regimes for tourists from our region,” the president concluded.
At the end of his address, Mirziyoyev congratulated summit participants on the historic decision to establish a strategic partnership between the two regions.
“To ensure practical implementation of all the agreements and initiatives, I propose that the summit secretariat and expert groups prepare a roadmap within a month for approval through working channels,” he concluded.
