French media: EU-Central Asia Summit: Central Asia's strategic shift towards Europe The EU-Central Asia Summit was held in Samarkand on April 3-4. In the context of the Russia-Ukraine war, the five Central Asian countries that gained independence from the former Soviet Union "need reliable partners." The EU-Central Asia Summit was held this Thursday and Friday in the city of Samarkand in Uzbekistan. This summit is hailed as having "historical" significance. President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen and President of the European Council Charles Michel led delegations to attend this summit, aiming to deepen economic and political cooperation between the EU and Central Asia. Euronews pointed out that the five Central Asian countries -- Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan -- have begun a strategic shift towards Europe after years of reforms and assistance from Europe. The EU is also seeking reliable partners in today's rapidly changing geopolitical reality. This is both for political reasons and for economic reasons such as trade, investment, and energy. Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev, the host of this summit, described the meeting as a "historic opportunity" for the region in an exclusive interview with Euronews. He said that over the past seven years, trade between Central Asian countries and the EU has quadrupled, reaching 54 billion euros. Currently, more than 1,000 European companies are doing business in Uzbekistan, with joint investment projects totaling 30 billion euros. 34 Years of Independence Kyrgyz Deputy Prime Minister Edil Byasalov described this summit as a "truly historic moment for Central Asia" in an interview with Euronews. He said, "We have been independent for 34 years. We celebrate this new phase." "When the world order is shaken by these major geopolitical upheavals, we need reliable partners." One of the main areas of cooperation is the ongoing "Middle Corridor" strategic green corridor project across the Caspian Sea and Black Sea to Europe. Implementing this initiative will lay a solid foundation for the mutually beneficial energy connections sought by both sides. Source: rfi [Image][Image][Image] Original article: https://www.toutiao.com/article/1828427319361547/ Disclaimer: The article only represents the views of the author.