At the first summit of leaders of the European Union and five Central Asian countries in Uzbekistan today, a joint declaration was adopted on the establishment of a strategic partnership between the two regions with the aim of deepening cooperation, particularly in the areas of transport, critical raw materials, clean energy and digital connectivity.
The summit announced a €12 billion EU investment package for new projects in Central Asia and approved a declaration of intent on critical raw materials to strengthen cooperation in the field of energy and the green transition.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, European Council President Antonio Costa, and the leaders of the former Soviet republics of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan met in the Uzbek city of Samarkand to reaffirm their commitment to deepening cooperation in the "evolving global and regional geopolitical environment" and decided to elevate relations to the level of strategic partnership.
"Strengthening trade and investment ties between Central Asia and the EU is essential for economic growth, as well as for the development and diversification of regional and inter-regional trade," the declaration states, adding that the cooperation will be in line with the EU's Global Gateway strategy.
The document emphasizes that improving cooperation in the area of critical raw materials is of strategic importance with the aim of ensuring secure, sustainable and diverse supply chains.
"We agreed that the Declaration of Intent approved at this summit will deepen cooperation in this area, strengthening economic resilience, shared prosperity and facilitating the transition to a green and digital economy," the declaration said.
The President of the European Commission emphasized at the summit that Europe is not only interested in exploitation and extraction, but also wants to help develop local industry, from mining to processing, creating jobs and research laboratories, and training local workers.
"Your countries are rich in enormous resources. The region has 40% of the global manganese reserves, as well as lithium, graphite and much more. These raw materials are the lifeblood of the future global economy," said Von der Leyen.
She emphasized that the EU wants to build a long-term partnership that will benefit the citizens of both regions and future generations.
"We have already signed Memoranda of Understanding on key minerals with Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan. Today, we are taking this cooperation to a new level, with the approval of the Joint Declaration of Intent on Critical Raw Materials. This will attract major private investment across the region. It is a partnership that will benefit both Europe and Central Asia. Because your strategic autonomy on raw materials is in our strategic interest," von der Leyen said.
She said the region has a strategic location that can open global trade routes and attract new investments, and that the EU wants to be a partner in a "new chapter" of their history.
The strategic partnership will deepen ties between the two regions and open up new opportunities for cooperation, said von der Leyen, assessing that today's summit is the beginning of a "new era" of friendship.
Economic growth and regional integration require improved transport connectivity, the declaration states, and particularly highlights the importance of establishing the Trans-Caspian Transport Corridor, a trade route that bypasses Russia and connects Europe with Asia across the Caspian Sea.
Von der Leyen said the corridor would shorten travel times between Europe and Central Asia and open up untapped potential for business between the regions.
The summit participants stressed the importance of achieving a comprehensive, just and lasting peace in Ukraine and expressed concern about the humanitarian situation and the state of respect for human rights and freedoms in Afghanistan.
It was agreed to strengthen cooperation to prevent the circumvention of sanctions, in the fight against hybrid threats, cyberattacks, radicalization, terrorism, violent extremism and disinformation, as well as against climate change and pollution.
"We are committed to cooperation for the purpose of peace, security and democracy, to full respect for international law, including the UN Charter and the fundamental principles of respect for the independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity of all states, within their internationally recognized borders," the declaration states.
EU and Central Asian leaders also stressed that ensuring freedom of expression and association, an enabling environment for civil society and independent media, the protection of human rights defenders, as well as respect for women's rights, children's rights and workers' rights remain at the core of relations between the two regions.
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