The high-level event brought together President of the European Council António Costa, President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen, President of the Republic of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, President of the Kyrgyz Republic Sadyr Japarov, President of the Republic of Tajikistan Emomali Rahmon, and President of Turkmenistan Serdar Berdimuhamedov. Leaders of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development and the European Investment Bank were also in attendance.

Europe needs Central Asia on multiple levels: energy, rare materials, the middle corridor, regional security, sustainable development... This is precisely why Uzbekistan hosted the grand EU-Central Asia Summit.

President of Uzbekistan introduced a number of new initiatives aimed at further reinforcing strategic collaboration between Central Asia and the European Union.

The reason why Uzbekistan hosted this summit highlights several points: Uzbekistan is the most populous country in Central Asia, it has an incomparable rich heritage, and it is endowed with enormous natural resources such as critical materials. The country has experienced significant democratization and spectacular development since Mirziyoyev came to power. Indeed, the president initiated the "New Uzbekistan" policy aimed at a spectacular development that will lead the country into a Third Renaissance. The country is a land of Renaissance because from the 9th to the 12th centuries, as well as in the 15th century, it was the center of science and art. We can mention great astronomers like Alfraganus, Ulug Beg, and Qadizade Rumi. Therefore, the President aims to develop the country through science, art, music, technology, etc., to regain its former glory.

Understanding now the "New Uzbekistan" policy of President Mirziyoyev, Akmal Saidov, Director of the National Center of the Republic of Uzbekistan for Human Rights and Deputy of the Legislative Chamber of the Oliy Majlis, explained what this "New Uzbekistan" policy entails.

He says that As President Shavkat Mirziyoyev emphasized in an interview with Euronews in the threshold of the Summit, the Central Asia-European Union format is a unique platform for cooperation that has no analogues either in terms of scale or institutional coverage. It brings together the European Union, which comprises 27 countries, including the three members of the G7 - Germany, France and Italy, and is the largest integration structure that has established a systemic interregional partnership with Central Asia.

Cooperation with the European Union covers a wide range of areas, from economy and investment to sustainable development, security and digital transformation. Most notably, this format is built on long-term strategic priorities”.

Moreover, Akmal Saidov also emphasized why the summit was held in Samarkand, reminding that this city was the capital of science under the Timurids and housed the best astronomical observatories.

He says “First Central Asia–European Union Summit, it is no coincidence that the meeting held in Samarkand is called a turning point in the development of cooperation between the two regions. In our view, this high praise can be attributed to two key factors.

First, relations between Central Asia and the European Union are deeply rooted in history. Centuries-old diplomatic correspondence between Amir Temur the Conqueror (Sahibqiron) and European monarchs stands as evidence of these longstanding ties. Even in those distant times, our ancestors aspired to build expansive and lasting cooperation between our regions.

In this light, the Inaugural Summit can be seen as a symbolic embodiment of the historical aspirations of our peoples and states. The choice of Samarkand, a enchanting city that was once the heart of Amir Temur's empire, as the host city gives the event a deep symbolic meaning.

Samarkand, often referred to as the “Jewel of the Earth,” the “pearl of the Muslim world,” and the “paradise of the East,” has long held a special place in the cultural and historical consciousness of the region. It is no coincidence that a former U.S. Secretary of State once called Samarkand “the capital of the world”.

As President of Uzbekistan eloquently stated, “When viewed from Samarkand, the world does not appear fragmented it seems whole and indivisible. This is the essence of the unique phenomenon known as the ‘Spirit of Samarkand,’ which now serves as the foundation for a fundamentally new format of international cooperation.””

Additionally, Europe is seeking to establish itself in Central Asia, with French companies investing heavily in Uzbekistan. This is why Akmal Saidov notes Europe's interest in increasing its bilateral agreements after the summit. He says that

“Second, relations between Central Asia and the European Union are shifting from bilateral engagement to a broader, regional strategic partnership. Until recently, cooperation was largely pursued through bilateral channels. Now, however, a genuine interregional bridge has been built between Central Asia and the European Union”.

Moreover, there is no doubt that the region is no longer a peripheral zone but a powerful region in its own right and a coveted partner by major powers such as Europe, Türkiye, Russia, and China. On this subject, Akmal Saidov writes that

“Even more significantly, this high-level Summit reinforced the validity of President of Uzbekistan’s assessment of the region’s current role and future trajectory. Central Asia is no longer on the periphery of history, it is becoming a rapidly developing region, shaping its own strategic agenda. Political will, mutual trust at the highest levels, and joint economic initiatives have created new opportunities for sustainable growth.

These developments have also been acknowledged by UN Secretary-General António Guterres, who noted that while fragmentation once prevailed in Central Asia, a new atmosphere of trust, cooperation, and solidarity has taken root. This new spirit is grounded in friendship, mutual respect, and the collective resolution of shared challenges.

 As acknowledged by the UN Secretary-General, President Shavkat Mirziyoyev can rightly be regarded as an initiator and a bridge-builder in the region, as well as a messenger of peace. He is actively working to establish and promote prosperity based on justice. These efforts are fully aligned with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals”.

On the eve of the summit, President Shavkat Mirziyoyev held direct and substantive talks with high-ranking guests of this prestigious forum. In particular, President of the European Council António Costa and President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen highly praised Uzbekistan's economic reform agenda aimed at building a New Uzbekistan, and expressed strong support for the country’s policy of strengthening good neighborly relations, trust, and regional partnership in Central Asia.

In sum, a message of unity was conveyed by Uzbekistan through this summit. Akmal Saidov also mentioned that "If brothers are united, no task is too great," citing an English proverb.

Furthermore, Akmal Saidov notes that the New Uzbekistan policy, initiated by Mirziyoyev, promotes intergovernmental dialogue and joint water management with the region...

As American expert Jennifer Brick Murtazashvili noted, “It is time to see Central Asia as it is. This is no longer a post-Soviet space - it is Eurasia.” The growing use of the term “Spirit of Central Asia” in international discourse is a powerful confirmation of this new reality.

Akmal Saidov notes that the region will grow and gain weight on the international stage. He says that

“The region is now undergoing a gradual and constructive process of building cooperative and mutually supportive relations based on good-neighborliness. As a result, Central Asia has undergone profound changes in recent years, becoming a space of mutual trust and broad cooperation, which is now widely recognized.

In President of Uzbekistan’s own words: “Trust and good-neighborly relations among regional countries are strengthening, and broad cooperation and partnerships are expanding. Just seven or eight years ago, none of this seemed possible. Some borders were closed. There was no trade, no transit, no business, no humanitarian exchanges. Relations were simply frozen. At that time, no one could have imagined that in the near future, we would be sitting with European leaders, jointly representing our region in dialogue.

It is also worth noting that Central Asian countries have been actively cooperating with various states and two regional organizations within the “Central Asia +” formats. As a result, over the past seven years, trade turnover between Central Asian nations and the European Union has quadrupled, reaching 54 billion euros.

In turn, the establishment of a strategic partnership between Central Asia and the European Union at the Samarkand Summit is opening new avenues for interregional cooperation and connectivity”.

He ends his speech by saying that « Central Asia remains a top priority in Uzbekistan’s foreign policy. In this context, President of Uzbekistan, in his interview with Euronews, emphasized three main priorities during Uzbekistan’s chairmanship in the Central Asian Five format:

• Strengthening regional security;
• Deepening economic integration;
• Ensuring environmental sustainability.

As the President of Uzbekistan noted, “We now have a historic opportunity to make our region not only stable, but also prosperous. I can say with full confidence that together we have the potential to realize this goal.

First, intensifying political dialogue and investing in efforts to create a sound legal and institutional framework for multilateral cooperation.

Second, prioritizing investment in economic development and technological modernization as a key area of bilateral and interregional cooperation.

Third, the Summit decided to deepen cooperation and investment in strategic mineral resources.

Fourth, investments in green energy and environmental sustainability are of strategic importance.

Fifth, investments in human capital will allow for greater exchange and cooperation in education, culture, and the humanitarian sphere.

In addition to the formal Summit proceedings, following the high-level meeting, the leaders jointly visited the Aral Cultural Summit exhibition. The exposition showcased unique initiatives focused on restoring the Aral Sea ecosystem, preserving the region’s cultural heritage, and promoting sustainable development.

It is especially worth noting that on the same day, the high-ranking Summit guests also took part in the plenary session of the Samarkand Climate Forum, dedicated to addressing contemporary environmental challenges facing Central Asia. The active participation of EU and Central Asian leaders, UN representatives, international financial institutions, and both global and national environmental organizations served as a powerful demonstration of their shared commitment to finding effective solutions to pressing sustainable development issues.”

In conclusion, the key outcome of the first Central Asia – European Union Summit was, without doubt, the adoption of a Joint Declaration establishing the foundations for a strategic partnership between the two regions.

The Joint Declaration sets out a commitment to promote interregional cooperation in several key areas, including peace, security and democrac, development and prosperity, environmental sustainability, green economic growth, combating climate change, and ensuring food and energy security. It also highlights the achievements of each Central Asian country in specific areas of cooperation and describes plans for the future.

Leaders of the European Union and Central Asia underscored that the rule of law, the promotion and protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms are shared core values. In this context, particular emphasis was placed on the importance of safeguarding freedom of expression and the right to freedom of association, creating an enabling environment for civil society and independent media, protecting human rights defenders, and respecting the rights of women, children, and labor migrants - all of which constitute the foundational principles of relations between the two regions.

The Joint Declaration also endorsed the initiative to hold a “EU–Central Asia Civil Society Forum”. Gratitude was extended to the Government of Uzbekistan for the successful organization of the first Central Asia – European Union summit in the city of Samarkand.

Akmal SAIDOV
Director of the National Center of the Republic of Uzbekistan for Human Rights, Deputy of the Legislative Chamber of the Oliy Majlis

EU Reporter