Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.uz) — US Secretary of State Marco Rubio will lead a delegation representing more than 100 American companies to Samarkand in mid-October, US Special Envoy for South and Central Asia Sergio Gor said on 24 September in a publication on the website of the US Embassy in India.
According to the diplomat, the visit is aimed at developing the strategic partnership between the United States and Central Asian countries, as well as expanding bilateral diplomatic and trade and economic cooperation.
In Samarkand, Rubio will participate in a C5+1 foreign ministers' meeting with representatives of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan.
The parties plan to discuss regional economic connectivity, strengthening energy security and joint approaches to addressing issues shared by the region within the C5+1 framework.
During the visit, Rubio will also hold meetings with Uzbekistan's leadership and representatives of countries in the region. The main topics will include expanding trade, attracting private-sector investment and supporting economic modernization in Central Asia.
The US mission described the upcoming visit by the secretary of state as historic because of the scale of the business delegation, which will include more than 100 American companies.
