Participants in the Second Foreign Ministerial Meeting of Central Asia – the Gulf Cooperation Council Strategic Dialogue held the day before in Tashkent, discussed further strengthening mutually beneficial cooperation. This was stated by the First Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Uzbekistan, Bakhromjon Aloyev, at a briefing following the event.

According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Uzbekistan, at the meeting, issues of strengthening mutually beneficial and comprehensive cooperation between the two regions in trade, economic, investment, transport and communication, cultural, humanitarian, environmental, and tourism spheres were discussed.

It is also reported that the ministers exchanged views on current international and regional issues, particularly Afghanistan, the Middle East situation, the Palestinian-Israeli conflict, and several other topics. At the same time, all parties confirmed that they are “unshakable and united in strengthening stable and promising cooperation based on common values and mutual interests”.

Special attention was paid to issues related to organizing the next Strategic Dialogue “Central Asia – Gulf Cooperation Council” in Samarkand in 2025.

It was decided that the next meeting of the foreign ministers of Central Asia and the Gulf states would be held in Kuwait in 2026.

Of course, the meeting became the next step for the parties towards unlocking each other’s potential and served as a solid platform for strengthening mutual understanding, trusting dialogue, and equal partnership between the states of two dynamically developing regions.

Aziza Alimova, UzA