Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.uz) — US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Washington intends to strengthen relations with Uzbekistan and other Central Asian countries. He said the region had not received sufficient attention from American policymakers over the past 20 years, but that the situation was now changing. He made the remarks to journalists upon arriving in Uzbekistan.
Rubio described Uzbekistan as a key country in the region, citing its population, economic growth and potential for further development.
“I think Uzbekistan plays a key role. It is a cornerstone country in the region. It is the most populous country,” the secretary of state said.
He stressed that the United States was interested in sustaining Uzbekistan’s positive economic momentum. In his assessment, the country’s GDP growth rate is approaching 8% annually.
“If you can achieve the same results over the next decade as you have over the past decade, Uzbekistan will become a truly outstanding country. Although it already is one,” Rubio said.
The US secretary of state also highlighted Uzbekistan’s appeal as a tourist destination. He said the two sides were discussing the possibility of launching a direct flight from the United States, potentially from Miami. Direct air links with some other American cities are already in place.
Rubio said Washington wanted to support transformation efforts in Uzbekistan and other Central Asian countries. He noted that the region had made significant progress since the collapse of the Soviet Union and had considerable opportunities for further development.
“That is why we are here. We want to make a positive contribution to this process. That is also why we have brought business representatives with us — they want to take part in the country’s development as well,” he explained.
Asked about the expected outcomes of the visit and the participation of a delegation representing around 200 American companies, Rubio said specific agreements were expected to be announced after the forum.
“These are companies that will do business here, that are welcome here and that are interested in operating in the Uzbek market. We will announce these agreements at the conclusion of the forum,” Rubio said.
He stressed that the expected agreements would mark the beginning of further expansion in economic ties between the two countries.
“This is not the end, but the beginning,” the secretary of state added.
Speaking about regional cooperation, Rubio said the United States had paid greater attention to Central Asia in recent years. As an example, he cited meetings with regional leaders and Uzbekistan’s president last year. In his view, Washington should send delegations from the US Congress to the region more frequently.
The secretary of state also expressed hope that he would visit Central Asia again in the future. He described the decision to hold a C5+1 meeting in Uzbekistan alongside bilateral talks as a reflection of the US commitment to strengthening relations with countries across the region.
