German MP: Parliamentary diplomacy as a pillar of interregional cooperation
Addressing participants at the Central Asia – Germany Experts Forum in Khiva, Christian Görke, head of the Bundestag’s Germany – Central Asia parliamentary group, presented an assessment of the current state and prospects of interregional cooperation.
The MP emphasized the strategic importance of the “Central Asia – Germany” format, which is gradually becoming a stable platform for developing coordinated approaches and strengthening trust. In his view, the willingness to expand cooperation expressed within the “C5+1” dialogue indicates a solid political foundation. At the same time, the key task remains transitioning from declared intentions to practical implementation.
Christian Görke noted that amid global turbulence, Central Asia is increasingly important as a space for dialogue and interaction among various centers of power. However, he added that in developing cooperation, it is important to take into account the foreign policy specifics of the countries in the region, including their multi-vector policies and interactions with partners such as China, Russia, and Türkiye.
Regarding the practical aspects of the partnership, the parliamentarian highlighted several areas, including developing economic ties, expanding business participation, and deepening humanitarian contacts. In his view, particular importance lies in expanding people-to-people connections, including academic exchanges and youth programs.
He also proposed several practical recommendations to remove existing barriers. These primarily include simplifying visa procedures for citizens of Central Asian countries, expanding consular capacity, and reducing administrative costs. According to him, such measures can give cooperation a practical dimension and strengthen trust between societies.
Summing up, Christian Görke emphasized the importance of continuous, substantive dialogue. In his view, expert and political platforms, such as the forum in Khiva, help shape long-term cooperation strategies focused on sustainable results.
UzA
