Samarkand talks have become Central Asia's voice in the world

On 19 October in Samarkand, President Shavkat Mirziyoyev received foreign ministers who had come to Uzbekistan to attend the C5+1 foreign ministers' meeting. They were Rashid Meredov of Turkmenistan, who is Deputy Chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers and foreign minister, Mukhtar Tleuberdi of Kazakhstan, Jeenbek Kulubaev of Kyrgyzstan and Sirojiddin Muhriddin of Tajikistan.

In talks with Turkmenistan, the sides discussed developing strategic partnership. They noted that a supreme-level strategic partnership council had recently been formed and that trade and cargo volumes were rising. Mirziyoyev said the dialogue begun eleven years ago had become Central Asia's voice in the world. He said relations with Kazakhstan had reached a new stage, and the sides also exchanged views on the G20 summit to be held in Miami.

With Kyrgyzstan, the sides noted positive trade growth and major cooperation projects in energy and transport. Mirziyoyev said a trade volume of $1 billion was "not yet a limit" and that reaching $5 billion was realistic through systematic industrial cooperation. With Tajikistan, the sides discussed introducing a border crossing system based on ID cards, as cargo traffic grows.