Upcoming "Central Asia – European Union" summit to open a new phase in relations between the two regions

A roundtable discussion titled "Central Asia and the European Union on the Eve of the Samarkand summit" was held in Budapest, reports Dunyo IA correspondent.

The event was organized by the Center for Foreign Policy Research and International Initiatives under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Uzbekistan and the Research Center of Corvinus University of Budapest. It gathered leading experts, diplomats, and scholars from Uzbekistan and Hungary.

The event was inaugurated with the participation of Dr. Tamas Bartus, Vice-Rector for Scientific Affairs of Corvinus University, Sanjar Valiyev, Director of the Center for Foreign Policy Research and International Initiatives of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Uzbekistan, and Oybek Shakhavdinov, Ambassador of Uzbekistan to Hungary.

The event featured two key thematic sessions, each addressing important aspects of cooperation between the European Union and Central Asia in light of current challenges.

The first session, titled "Rethinking EU-Central Asia Cooperation in the Context of Global Changes and Shared Challenges", focused on the need to adapt cooperation agendas and mechanisms to new realities.

Participants discussed the impact of global changes on regional security and sustainable development. Experts emphasized the importance of flexibility and innovative approaches in EU policy, as well as the necessity of considering the interests of all Central Asian countries to create effective cooperation strategies.

The second session, dedicated to prospective projects for further EU-Central Asia cooperation, served as a platform for presenting specific initiatives and projects that could strengthen the ties between the regions.

A significant aspect of the discussion was exploring additional opportunities for attracting investment and technology from Europe to implement sustainable projects in Central Asia, which could have a tangible impact on economic growth and social well-being.

Both sessions demonstrated a high level of interest from the participants in deepening cooperation and exchanging research findings. They also expressed support for the creation of joint platforms to address global and regional issues.

It was noted that by combining efforts, the regions could effectively respond to the complex challenges of the modern world and build strong partnerships between Europe and Central Asia.

Participants unanimously agreed that the upcoming "Central Asia – European Union" summit, scheduled for April 3-4 in Samarkand, will be a significant political event of historical importance and will open a new phase in the relations between the two regions. The summit will also feature the Samarkand International Conference on Climate Change in Central Asia.

Additionally, a memorandum of cooperation was signed between the Center for Foreign Policy Research and International Initiatives of Uzbekistan and Corvinus University, which will lay a solid foundation for joint research initiatives between Uzbek and Hungarian researchers in areas of mutual interest.