Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) -- On 17 November 2022, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Uzbekistan Vladimir Norov met with High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Vice President of the European Commission Josep Borrell in Samarkand.

Josep Borrell arrived in Uzbekistan to participate in major events in the "European Union - Central Asia" format.

Topical issues of Uzbek-European cooperation were discussed with an emphasis on their further activation and filling with practical content.

It was noted that in recent years, relations between Uzbekistan and the European Union have reached a qualitatively new level and acquired a comprehensive character. The official visit of the President of the European Council Charles Michel to Uzbekistan and the participation of the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev in the EU-Central Asia summit made it possible to identify new growth points for constructive and mutually beneficial cooperation.

The readiness of the parties to take joint efforts to build up ties in the areas of politics, trade and investment, financial and technical assistance, high technologies, science and education, ecology, tourism, healthcare, etc. was confirmed.

Josep Borrell said that the EU supports the reform policy pursued in Uzbekistan and is ready to assist in the consistent implementation of the New Uzbekistan Development Strategy. A high assessment was given to the modern foreign policy of Uzbekistan, thanks to which a new political atmosphere of mutual understanding and trust has been created in Central Asia in recent years.

The parties welcomed the initialing of the Enhanced Partnership and Cooperation Agreement, which will open a new page in relations between Uzbekistan and the European Union. The need for the speedy completion of internal procedures for signing this document was noted.

An exchange of views took place on the schedule of upcoming events, including the Uzbekistan-EU Cooperation Council and the EU-Central Asia Tourism Forum.

Particular attention was paid to the prospects for expanding cooperation in the field of ecology through the joint promotion of the green agenda, environmental protection, combating climate change, and careful use of natural resources.

The current situation in Afghanistan was also considered. Josep Borrell supported the opinion of the Uzbek side on the need to prevent the isolation of Afghanistan in order to avoid a humanitarian crisis in this country.

The conviction was expressed that the EU-Central Asia Ministerial Meeting and the EU-Central Asia International Conference on Connectivity: Global Gateway to Sustainable Development will further promote sustainable inter-regional connectivity.