03.04.2025

On the margins of the Samarkand summit on April 3, President of the Republic of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev met with President of the European Council António Costa and President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen, who are on a visit to our country.

Issues of further developing and deepening the Uzbek-European multifaceted cooperation, primarily in the trade, economic and investment spheres, have been thoroughly discussed.

Active contacts and productive exchanges at different levels, effective work within the institutional mechanisms of practical interaction have been emphasized with particular satisfaction. Extended Partnership and Cooperation Agreement is being prepared for signing.

Uzbekistan's trade turnover with the EU countries is growing dynamically. The portfolio of investment projects with leading European companies exceeds 30 billion euros. Our country is a major beneficiary of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, and a regional office of the European Investment Bank is opening in Tashkent.

The leaders of the EU's main institutions highly appreciated and expressed strong support for the ongoing program of economic reforms to build the New Uzbekistan, as well as the policy to strengthen good-neighborliness, trust and partnership in Central Asia.

During the talks, the main attention was paid to the promotion of joint programs and cooperation projects in the field of innovation, green energy, mining, agriculture, transport, logistics, digitalization and other areas.

The importance of continuing active exchanges in the field of tourism, culture, science, education and health care was noted.

The agenda of the forthcoming first summit in the format “Central Asia - European Union” and the prospects of strengthening the interconnectivity of the two regions within the framework of the European strategy “Global Gateway” were discussed.

There was also an exchange of views on topical aspects of international and regional politics, including the issue of promoting the socio-economic development of Afghanistan.