Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.uz) — The United States is not asking Uzbekistan or other Central Asian countries to limit cooperation with China in exchange for developing closer relations with Washington.
American companies should have equal opportunities to compete in regional markets, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said during his visit to Samarkand on 19 October.
Asked by a journalist what Washington could offer Central Asian countries amid China’s growing influence, Rubio stressed that the United States views engagement with the region primarily as economic competition rather than a confrontation with other countries.
“This is not about coming here and saying, stop talking to someone else or working with another country. It is about ensuring that American companies have a fair opportunity to compete wherever countries are open for business,” the secretary of state said.
According to Rubio, Uzbekistan seeks to maintain relations with all countries and expand trade and economic ties with a range of partners. The United States is also interested in deepening cooperation with the republic.
As part of the C5+1 forum, Uzbekistan and the United States concluded 54 agreements in trade, investment and technology worth a total of US$12 billion.
The agreements cover transport, energy, mining, finance, digital technology, agriculture, healthcare and education.
