Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) -- On 17 November 2020, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Uzbekistan Abdulaziz Kamilov took part in the 16th ministerial meeting "European Union - Central Asia" in the format of a video conference.

The heads of the foreign affairs agencies of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan and the High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy discussed issues of further strengthening interregional cooperation in various fields.

During the meeting, Minister Abdulaziz Kamilov drew attention to the need to take coordinated actions to mitigate the consequences of the coronavirus pandemic and strengthen the sustainability of the socio-economic development of Central Asian countries.

It was noted that the conclusion of the Agreement on expanded partnership and cooperation, as well as the receipt by Uzbekistan of the status of a beneficiary country of the GSP + system will give a new impetus to the intensification of interaction with the European Union.

The progress in the implementation of the initiatives envisaged in the EU Strategy for Central Asia adopted in June 2019 was analyzed, and mechanisms for enhancing joint work in this direction were considered.

The urgency of expanding the priorities of interaction within the framework of the new EU budget period for 2021-2027, which should cover such aspects of the life of the countries of the region as the development of rural areas, improving the quality of education, effective public administration and medicine, was emphasized.

The head of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Uzbekistan noted that ensuring the deep integration of the region into global economic, transport and transit corridors is a strategic task of the Central Asian states. In this regard, at the 75th session of the UN General Assembly, the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev put forward an initiative to create a Regional Center for the Development of Transport and Communication Interconnection under the auspices of the Organization, the implementation of which will allow the formation of a diversified system of transport and transit routes in the region.

Special attention is paid to the issues of expanding regional cooperation in the trade and economic sphere by improving mutual access to the markets for goods and services, as well as cooperation in the digitalization of the economy.

It was emphasized that the establishment of a lasting peace in Afghanistan is a guarantee of stability and prosperity for the entire region. Its involvement in regional economic processes through the implementation of large investment and infrastructure projects will provide the necessary conditions for an early settlement of the Afghan problem.

The head of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Uzbekistan also elaborated on the prospects for the development of multilateral ties in the cultural and humanitarian sphere, as well as in the field of tourism, science, education and innovation.

Following the ministerial meeting, a Joint Communiqué was adopted.