Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.uz) — A delegation from Central Asian countries met with Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer, Chairwoman of the Konrad Adenauer Foundation, during an international expert meeting held in Cadenabbia, Italy, from 17 to 19 September.
The meeting, titled “Central Asia amid Global Shifts: Own Strategies, Regional Security and the Formation of New Cooperation,” brought together representatives of Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan, including lawmakers, foreign ministry officials, experts and media representatives.
Addressing the participants, Kramp-Karrenbauer emphasized the strategic importance of Central Asia and the potential for further strengthening regional cooperation.
“I know very well how important your region is, what strategic significance it has and how much stronger it can become,” the Chairwoman of the Konrad Adenauer Foundation said.
According to her, further strengthening Central Asia’s position is closely linked to the consistent development of interaction among the countries of the region, deeper political dialogue and the establishment of sustainable cooperation mechanisms.
The Central Asian countries, it was noted, are increasingly defining their regional development priorities independently and developing practical formats of cooperation aimed at strengthening connectivity, trust and resilience.
Kramp-Karrenbauer also expressed the Konrad Adenauer Foundation’s readiness to support the development of regional dialogue, including through expert and political meetings.
“I am very pleased if we can also contribute something from our side, including through today’s exchange of views. For me, this is a great joy and a source of pride,” she said.
Cadenabbia as a platform for international dialogue
Particular attention at the meeting was given to the symbolic significance of Cadenabbia, a place historically associated with Germany’s first Federal Chancellor, Konrad Adenauer.
During Adenauer’s stays in Italy, Villa La Collina, located there, effectively served as a temporary venue for conducting government affairs. Despite his summer holidays, the chancellor continued to work actively on political issues, received foreign guests and held meetings on Germany’s domestic and international agenda.
This historical tradition is reflected today in the activities of the Konrad Adenauer Foundation, which uses Cadenabbia as a venue for international political and expert dialogue.
“I hope that this special atmosphere, the spirit of this place, will inspire and support you in your work,” Kramp-Karrenbauer said.
Uzbekistan: Regional dialogue gains practical importance
Akramjon Nematov, First Deputy Director of the Institute for Strategic and Regional Studies under the President of Uzbekistan (ISMI), thanked the foundation’s Chairwoman for participating in the meeting, supporting regional dialogue and providing an opportunity to hold such events.
He highlighted the representative composition of the participants, which brought together politicians, lawmakers, foreign ministry officials and experts from Central Asian countries.
“Politicians, representatives of parliaments and foreign ministries, as well as experts and political figures from the countries of the region are indeed represented here — people who are working to strengthen regional cooperation. Many of them have been engaged in this work for many years,” Nematov said.
According to him, the opportunity to bring together representatives of various professional communities directly involved in regional rapprochement and cooperation was particularly valuable.
He also expressed appreciation to the Konrad Adenauer Foundation for its long-standing support for the development of such dialogue and for creating conditions for an open exchange of views on current regional and international issues.
Central Asia amid global changes
The meeting was part of a broader expert discussion on the role of Central Asia amid transformations in the international system.
Participants focused on strengthening regional security and resilience, developing good-neighborly relations and trust, expanding trade and economic ties, and improving transport and water and energy connectivity.
Particular attention was paid to further strengthening the region’s agency and the ability of Central Asian states to jointly develop approaches to common challenges and opportunities.
In this context, expert platforms bringing together representatives of the region’s states are gaining additional importance. They provide an opportunity to compare national approaches, discuss common interests and develop practical areas of cooperation in response to changing geopolitical and economic conditions.
Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer became Chairwoman of the Konrad Adenauer Foundation on 1 January 2026. She was elected to the position on 19 December 2025, succeeding former Bundestag President Norbert Lammert.
Kramp-Karrenbauer is one of the prominent figures in German politics in recent decades.
From 2011 to 2018, she served as Minister-President of the German state of Saarland. From 2018 to 2021, she chaired the Christian Democratic Union of Germany, and from 2019 to 2021, she served as Germany’s Federal Minister of Defence.
