C5+1: key achievements and new opportunities for cooperation
Following the C5+1 meeting in Samarkand, attended by the foreign ministers of the United States and five Central Asian countries, the parties adopted a Joint Statement “C5+1: Historic Partnership, Prosperous Future”.
Key outcomes of the meeting:
Trade and Investment. The parties identified key opportunities to expand interregional trade, align customs procedures, and promote industrial cooperation.
Transport. Support was reaffirmed for developing the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route and attracting investment in transport infrastructure.
Critical Minerals. Cooperation in mineral exploration and deposit development, advanced raw-material processing, and the production of high-value-added products was identified as a priority.
Energy and Technology. The parties aim to deepen cooperation on energy security, digital infrastructure, and advanced technologies.
Security. Particular attention was paid to enhancing cooperation to combat terrorism, transnational crime, and cyber threats, and to addressing nuclear safety and the peaceful use of nuclear energy.
Education and Humanitarian Cooperation. Priorities include promoting English-language teaching, expanding cultural exchanges, and strengthening people-to-people connections.
Uzbekistan and the United States also made significant progress in bilateral economic cooperation. At a meeting of the Business and Investment Council, participants developed a package of 54 agreements and prospective initiatives worth about $12 billion.
Musulmon Ziyo, UzA
