Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) -- Samarkand hosted a ministerial meeting in the format "European Union - Central Asia" on 17 November.

The heads and representatives of the foreign affairs agencies of the EU and Central Asian states discussed the current state and prospects for the development of interaction between the two regions in the political, diplomatic, trade, economic, investment, water and energy, environmental, cultural and cultural spheres.

Opening the event, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Uzbekistan Vladimir Norov noted that the decision to organize the current forum in Samarkand testifies to the growing geopolitical importance of Central Asia and, in particular, the city of Samarkand as a new "hub" of interregional relations.

It was emphasized that Uzbekistan is interested in expanding and deepening mutually beneficial relations with the European Union, and fully supports the EU Strategy for Central Asia from 2019. In this context, the importance of adopting a joint Roadmap to accelerate the implementation of the Strategy was noted.

The conviction was expressed that the Samarkand Ministerial Meeting will allow developing a new agenda for our interregional cooperation and identifying specific areas of fruitful cooperation in the long term.