Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) -- On 17-18 November, Samarkand will host the 18th EU-Central Asia Ministerial Meeting and the EU-Central Asia Connectivity Conference.

The High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Vice-President of the European Commission Josep Borrell is expected to arrive in Uzbekistan to participate in the events.

The upcoming events, as well as the successful holding of the EU-Central Asia summit in Astana on 27 October and the subsequent visit to Uzbekistan of the President of the European Commission, Charles Michel, are clear evidence of the intensification of interregional dialogue and the mutual desire of the parties to increase multifaceted cooperation.

The dialogue in the format "European Union - Central Asia" was initiated by the EU in November 2004 with the aim of creating an additional instrument of cooperation with the countries of the region. As part of the dialogue, the European Union is helping to strengthen stability and security in the Central Asian region, sustainable economic development and improve the living standards of its population.

From 2004 to 2006, three meetings were held within the framework of this dialogue - in Bishkek (Kyrgyzstan, 2004), Brussels (Belgium, 2005), Almaty (Kazakhstan, 2006).

Since 2007, with the adoption of the EU Strategy for Central Asia at the initiative of the German side, meetings began to be held at the level of foreign ministers. So far, 17 meetings of the heads of foreign affairs agencies have been held.

Along with the ministerial meeting "European Union - Central Asia", at the level of the heads of foreign affairs agencies, other mechanisms for holding regular meetings in a similar format have been created and are effectively functioning, among them are meetings through relevant departments on issues of inter-parliamentary relations, economics, trade, investments, justice, democracy, human rights, education, environmental protection and water resources.

Since 2013, a high-level dialogue "European Union - Central Asia" has been established on political and security issues at the level of deputy foreign ministers. With the adoption of the updated EU Strategy for the region in 2019, new formats of interregional dialogue were launched - the Economic Forum "European Union - Central Asia", the Civil Society Forum. The current EU-Central Asia Connectivity Conference was initiated by the President of Uzbekistan. The European Union and the countries of Central Asia also supported the initiative of the head of our state to hold the first forum "European Union - Central Asia" on tourism in Khiva next year.

Uzbekistan stands for the consistent deepening of cooperation between our region and the European Union. President Shavkat Mirziyoyev highlighted a number of priority areas, including the development of trade and economic cooperation, including the creation of efficient transport and logistics corridors for optimal entry into the EU market, investments, eco-innovations, energy-efficient and resource-saving technologies, digitalization of economic sectors, introduction and development of "smart" agriculture, education and innovation exchanges, cultural and tourist ties.

The issue of the Afghan settlement continues to be an important area of cooperation.

Speaking at the "European Union - Central Asia" summit in Astana in October this year, the head of our state put forward a number of effective initiatives in these areas, and also reaffirmed Uzbekistan’s commitment to an open, systematic and productive dialogue in this format in the interests of stability, sustainable development and prosperity of our countries, reports IA Dunyo.

The beginning of relations between Uzbekistan and the European Communities was laid on 15 April 1992 by the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between the Government of Uzbekistan and the EU Commission. On 16 November 1994, diplomatic relations were established between the parties.

At present, the parties have successfully completed negotiations on the Enhanced Partnership and Cooperation Agreement (EPCA), which was initialed on 6 July 2022 in Brussels. This comprehensive document is expected to take bilateral ties to a whole new level.

In April last year, Uzbekistan was granted the status of a beneficiary country of the GSP + system of preferences, which confirmed the recognition by the European Union of the country’s achievements in fulfilling its obligations in the field of human rights and sustainable development. Thanks to obtaining this status, the volume of Uzbek exports to the EU countries has increased markedly.

The volume of mutual trade in January-September this year exceeded US$3 billion, which demonstrates an increase of 15.8%. In the coming years, it is planned to bring this figure up to US$10 billion. Today, 1052 enterprises operate in Uzbekistan with the participation of investments from the EU states, including 304 companies with 100% European capital.

Undoubtedly, the results of the upcoming events in the "European Union - Central Asia" format in Samarkand will strengthen the foundations of interregional cooperation, realize the existing and significantly expand the potential for mutually beneficial partnership in the name of progress and prosperity of the peoples of the two regions.