Uzbekistan’s President engages in informal talks with EU leader

On the evening of April 2, Uzbekistan’s President Shavkat Mirziyoyev held an informal meeting with António Costa, President of the European Council. This was reported by the Presidential Press Service.

The high-ranking EU official arrived in Uzbekistan earlier that morning and visited the city of Bukhara, where he explored the cultural and historical heritage of the Uzbek people.

During the meeting, the two leaders exchanged views on pressing bilateral and regional issues of mutual importance and thoroughly discussed preparations for the upcoming first “Central Asia—European Union” summit.

The inaugural summit between the European Union and Central Asia, chaired by President Shavkat Mirziyoyev, will take place on April 3–4 in Samarkand. Leaders from Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Turkmenistan will also participate. Additionally, the first Samarkand Climate Forum will be held on April 4–5 at the Silk Road Samarkand Congress Center. The forum will bring together leaders from Central Asia, representatives of the EU, the UN, international financial institutions, and leading environmental organizations.

During the summit, the European Union is expected to reaffirm its commitment to expanding cooperation in mutually beneficial areas, including transport and digital connectivity, critical raw materials, economic and security partnerships, and the energy transition.

Earlier, it was reported that European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen had also traveled to Samarkand to participate in the first “Central Asia – European Union” summit.