The European Union says it is entering a “new era” in its relations with Central Asian countries after a summit aimed at making inroads in a region dominated by Russia and China.
Speaking on the final day of the two-day summit, which was held in the Uzbek city of Samarkand, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said a series of global duties imposed by US President Donald Trump on 3 April showed the importance of building relations in a new era.
“We are at another turning point. New global barriers are emerging, investments are being redirected, forces around the world are sharing new spheres of influence,” von der Leyen stressed in a speech on 4 April. – Reliable partners have never been more important. We want to explore new avenues.
The two-day summit involving the leaders of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan comes as traditional ally Russia and neighbouring China vie for influence and the region also looks to deepen ties with the West.
Central Asia is interested in Europe’s advanced industrial technology, which Russia and China are trying to secure, while Brussels has its eyes on the region’s valuable natural resources.
During the summit, EU leaders announced a 12 billion euro investment package under the Global Gateway programme for Central Asian countries.
“This is really the beginning of a new era in our long-standing friendship,” the European Commission president said.
The investment is aimed at improving connectivity and trade, bringing the five Central Asian countries closer to European markets and opening a route to access important minerals from the region such as uranium, copper, coal, zinc, titanium, manganese, lithium and graphite.
“We want to be partners not only in mining but also in the development of local industry,” von der Leyen said.
European Council President António Costa said the European Union was keen to build a mutually beneficial partnership with Central Asia.
“Our relations have never been stronger and we must now move forward with ambition to write the next chapters of the strategic partnership between Central Asia and the European Union,” Costa said.
Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan are members of the CIS. Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan are members of the Collective Security Treaty Organisation (CSTO), which is dominated by Russia.