Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) -- In Central Asia, largely thanks to the efforts of Tashkent, the far-sighted and balanced policy of the President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev, it became possible to form a new regional geopolitical reality and security structure.

By means of spreading interreligious and interfaith harmony and tolerance in the region, the new leadership of Uzbekistan attaches particular importance to both the consolidation and integration processes in Central Asia as a whole and the quality of bilateral relations between Uzbekistan and its neighbors: Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Afghanistan.

The trade turnover of Uzbekistan with the countries of the region increased tenfold and exceeded US$6.5 billion.

Thanks to the open and pragmatic policy of Uzbekistan towards the countries of Central Asia, regional ties were renewed and borders were opened; air, bus and railway routes have been restored and enriched with new directions; people-to-people connections were also facilitated, which in turn contributed to the development of regional economic and trade relations. As a result, the level of bilateral and multilateral cooperation in the region has increased markedly.

At the initiative of the President of Uzbekistan, starting from 2017, consultative meetings of the heads of state of Central Asia began to be held on a regular basis (4 meetings were held). These meetings laid the foundation for the transformation of the Central Asian region into a single trade, investment, transport and communication platform; contributed to the implementation of industrial cooperation projects; creation of joint investment companies and funds; implementation of transport and transit integration; expanding cross-border trade; increase in the scale of cultural and humanitarian cooperation.

At the same time, Uzbekistan defends the position that Central Asian security and identity is impossible without stabilization and normalization of the situation in Afghanistan, its integration into regional economic processes.

In view of the above transformations, the interest of the international community in the Central Asian region has increased significantly, and the region itself is showing interest in a constructive dialogue of bilateral and multilateral formats. The countries of Central Asia rightfully see France as one of the most promising partners.

In general, the process of establishing political, diplomatic and other relations between the states of Central Asia and France includes two phases:

- the first, covers the period of the 90s of the XX century, when the concept of mutual relations between France and the newly formed Central Asian countries is being formed, the main contours and directions of mutual cooperation are being determined;

- the second, includes the period from the beginning of the 21st century to the present, where urgent tasks are set and activities are carried out to establish a strategic partnership between France and the Central Asian states.

If at the first stage, relations between the countries of Central Asia and France were mainly bilateral, which did not focus on regional cooperation (excluding TACIS), then at the second stage, there is a noticeable transformation of French-Central Asian relations, which, on the one hand, are of a military-strategic nature and, on the other hand, energy.

The attention of the EU was also attracted by the region’s transit opportunities, since many projects initiated by the EU to diversify energy supplies from the Caspian region would be unprofitable without the participation of the Central Asian countries.

Given the above, France, as one of the main locomotives of the EU, began to lobby for the "New Partnership Strategy" adopted in 2007.

An important component of the First Strategy is the declaration of a two-level nature of the EU policy in the region: an individual - bilateral approach and a common - regional approach. The strategy envisaged a combination of bilateral partnerships and joint programs that promote the recognition of the uniqueness of each country and, at the same time, the development of regional projects in order to strengthen integration ties in Central Asia.

Subsequently, France delegated the discussion and resolution of these issues to the pan-European level, which allowed it to concentrate much more on its own interests in the region, mainly related to economic cooperation, security and cultural issues.

During its Presidency of the European Union in 2008, France made a significant contribution to the development of several projects in Central Asia. In partnership with Germany, it established the so-called “EU Rule of Law Initiative for Central Asia” (EU Rule of Law Initiative), a project aimed at sharing experience between countries in the field of the judiciary, law enforcement and accountability in the framework of national administrations.

The French Presidency of the European Union organized the EU-Central Asia forum in September 2008, which allowed for the first time to bring together the foreign ministers of European and Central Asian countries, and the then EU Commissioner for External Relations and Neighborhood Policy, Director General of UNESCO K. Matsuura, High Representative EU for Foreign Policy and Security J. Solana, OSCE Secretary General M. de Brichambaut, NATO Secretary General J. De Hoop Scheffer and EU Special Representative for Central Asia P. Morel. As a result of the forum, a Joint Statement of its participants was adopted, which determined the framework for cooperation between the EU and the countries of Central Asia on security issues.

A logical continuation of the previous conceptual program was the New Strategy "European Union and Central Asia: New Opportunities to Strengthen Partnership", adopted in 2019. The need to adopt a new Strategy is justified by the emerging new geopolitical realities, as well as the growing needs and opportunities for expanding cooperation.

The European Union for the countries of Central Asia is considered as a leading donor and partner interested in the process of reforms and economic transformations, a source of high-quality investments and modern technologies, a supporter of expanding regional cooperation between the countries of the region and their integration into the world trading system. The new Strategy provides for areas of cooperation based on the independent development of the region as a stable and interconnected economic and political space.

The Strategy identifies three priority areas for EU engagement:

- partnership with the states and the public of Central Asia in order to ensure sustainability (human rights and democracy, security, environmental issues);

- partnership for prosperity (support for economic diversification and development of the private sector, promotion of intra-regional trade and sustainable interaction);

- support for regional cooperation in Central Asia.

The conceptual program of the New Strategy - Partnership for Sustainability provides for the forecasting and consideration of challenges affecting the socio-economic goals and security of the countries of the region, as well as expanding their opportunities for reform and modernization. In doing so, the European Union will promote democracy, human rights and the rule of law, intensify cooperation on the implementation of the Paris climate commitments and address trans-regional environmental issues, as well as intensify cooperation in the field of migration.

The Partnership for Prosperity promotes a healthy and open investment climate, a competitive private sector, and skills, research and innovation, especially among young people. At the same time, activities will be carried out to eliminate structural restrictions on intra-regional trade and investment among the countries of the region and their sustainable interaction, as well as support for the accession to the WTO of the Central Asian states seeking to become members of this organization.

The new EU Strategy also contains recommendations for the preparation of assistance programs for the period 2021-2027.

Another significant event in the development of relations between Central Asia and the European Union was the visit of the President of the European Council Charles Michel on October 27 this year.

At the meeting in a narrow format, topical issues of further expansion of multifaceted cooperation were considered, and an exchange of views took place on the international and regional agenda.

An agreement was reached to continue close joint work to build up practical cooperation in order to promote the implementation of the program of democratic transformations and economic reforms in our country, primarily in the field of innovation, the green economy, digitalization, the intensification of trade and economic cooperation and cultural and humanitarian exchanges.

In addition, the issue of preparing a "road map" for the implementation of proposals and initiatives put forward by Uzbekistan during the summit in the "Central Asia - EU" format was agreed upon.

France’s priority interests also include cooperation with New Uzbekistan, the initiator of large-scale domestic and foreign policy reforms that contribute to the country’s entry into the ranks of leading states, as well as ensuring peace and stable development in Central Asia.

The official visit of the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev to France on 8-9 October 2018 at the invitation of French President Emmanuel Macron. It is worth noting that this visit was the first "high-level visit" since 1996.

The issues discussed were focused on the state and prospects for expanding trade, economic, investment, energy, technological, cultural and humanitarian cooperation. The parties positively assessed the activities of the Uzbek-French intergovernmental commission on trade and economic cooperation and noted the importance of increasing the volume of mutual trade, implementing promising investment projects in various sectors of the economy, however, noting that their state does not fully reflect the existing potential of the two countries. As a result of the meeting, 11 agreements and trade contracts worth 3.4 billion euros were signed.

Of particular interest was the identity of the positions of the two states in the field of security, as well as the solution of international and regional problems. Thus, the Leaders of the countries noted the importance of developing new forms of regional and international cooperation, jointly countering the challenges and threats of our time. The head of France fully supported the initiative of the President of Uzbekistan in stabilizing the situation in Afghanistan as an important condition for peace and tranquility in the region, and involving the latter in regional integration projects.

So, the visit of the President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev to France opened a new milestone in the history of Uzbek-French relations, identified promising areas of cooperation for a strategic perspective.

Uzbekistan, as one of the most important connecting links in Central Asia, and France, as one of the main locomotives of the European Union, have developed an effective mechanism to expand and strengthen not only bilateral relations, but also created a dense platform for France’s productive interaction on a regional scale. In this context, France, in its relations with the countries of Central Asia, relies on the following prerogatives:

- firstly, France builds its relations on a bilateral basis with each state of the region;

- secondly, France seeks to establish integration processes in Central Asia, involving all the countries of the region;

- thirdly, France, being a member of the European Union, also lobbies the format of interaction "CA-EU".

Summing up, it is worth noting that today, France is perceived by all countries of the Central Asian region as one of the leading partners.

Azer Adygezalov, Leading Research Fellow at the International Institute of Central Asia, Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in historical sciences.