Blinken meets with Mirziyoyev and Tokayev

The US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken plans to hold bilateral meetings with President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev and President of Kazakhstan Kasim-Jomart Tokayev.  This was announced yesterday, 24 February, by US Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asia Donald Lu.

It is noted that during Blinken's visit to Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, and India scheduled from 28 February to 3 March this year, he will meet with the leaders of Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan.

He will also take part in the C5+1 ministerial meeting between five Central Asian countries (Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan) and the USA in Astana.  After the multilateral meeting, the head of the US foreign policy department is scheduled to hold a face-to-face conversation with each of the five ministers.
"In addition, he will meet with the Presidents of Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan," said Donald Lu.

For information, this visit is Blinken's first visit to Uzbekistan since taking the position of State Secretary.  Former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo came to Tashkent three years ago on 2-3 February 2020, and met with President Mirziyoyev and then Foreign Minister Abdulaziz Komilov.

It should be noted that earlier the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Uzbekistan confirmed that Blinken was coming to Tashkent.