Connectivity is key to strengthening the partnership between Central Asia and Europe
On 27 October 2026, Tashkent hosted a roundtable on “Regionalization Processes: Experience of Central Asia and Europe, Prospects for Interregional Cooperation and Connectivity”.
The event was organized by the Institute for Strategic and Regional Studies under the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan (ISRS), the Ministry of Investment, Industry and Trade of the Republic of Uzbekistan (MIIT), and Global Neighbours.
The event brought together representatives of expert and research institutions from Central Asia and Europe. The meeting was held as part of the “Tracks to the Future” forum, whose route follows the historic Silk Road, highlighting the importance of transport links between Europe and Asia.
The discussions focused on regional integration, adapting European experience to Central Asia’s circumstances, developing transport corridors, energy cooperation, attracting investment, and strengthening digital connectivity.
Opening the roundtable, ISRS Deputy Director Bakhtiyor Mustafayev emphasized that the fragmentation of the global economy, the weakening of multilateral institutions, and the restructuring of production chains have increased the importance of regional cooperation. This form of partnership enables countries to find practical responses to shared challenges with increasing frequency.
The expert highlighted the positive changes in Central Asia under the initiative of President Shavkat Mirziyoyev. Regular dialogue among the heads of state has been established, longstanding border issues have been resolved, new border crossing points have opened, and mutual trade and investment have increased. The Central Asia 2040 Concept for the Development of Regional Cooperation contributes to strengthening the legal and institutional foundations of regional engagement.
At the same time, as Mr. Mustafayev noted, regional cooperation is based on equality, mutual respect, and consideration for every country’s interests, as Central Asia does not seek to establish supranational institutions.
The priority is to strengthen the region’s agency and strategic autonomy while remaining open to external partners.
The European Union is among Central Asia’s key external partners. The first Central Asia – EU Summit, held in Samarkand in April 2025, laid the foundation for a strategic partnership. The European side announced a €12 billion investment package under the Global Gateway initiative. Additional opportunities are offered by the Enhanced Partnership and Cooperation Agreement between Uzbekistan and the EU.
In this context, Mr. Mustafayev identified two key issues for further discussion.
First, he argued that it is important to determine which elements of the European experience in regional cooperation could be adapted to Central Asia’s circumstances. This requires taking the region’s specific characteristics into account while upholding the principles of sovereignty, equality, and the consistent strengthening of mutual trust.
Second, the ISRS Deputy Director stressed that connectivity should become a tangible driver of interregional cooperation. This entails developing the Trans-Caspian Transport Corridor, advancing energy projects and educational programs, expanding digital infrastructure, and strengthening cooperation in critical raw materials, with value added generated directly within Central Asia.
UzA
