The key facts

  • Marco Rubio called Central Asia 'an ideal place for investment and export' and a central hub for supplies of important materials.
  • Directions announced: the Trans-Caspian trade route, critical minerals, training of thousands of specialists, the B5+1 forum.
  • According to Rubio, last year's C5+1 meeting at the White House brought deals worth $25 billion.

Speech at the C5+1 meeting

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio spoke at a meeting of the foreign ministers of Central Asian countries and the US in the C5+1 format, reports a Gazeta correspondent. According to him, the countries of the region can jointly secure the resources, investment and trade partnerships needed to preserve sovereignty and grow shared prosperity. 'Together we can provide our countries with the resources, investment, opportunities and trade partnerships necessary so that each of our countries remains a sovereign state,' he said. The C5+1 format, in his view, reflects not only America's interest in closer and more peaceful relations with the region, but also its commitment to developing them.

US interests and the region's role

Rubio emphasized that the US seeks to ensure the security of its critical industries and supply chains in order to remain a sovereign country with an independent economy and not depend 'on unreliable foreign partners or even adversaries.' He called Central Asia an ideal place for investment and export — 'a central hub from which materials vital to the future of all countries are supplied.'

Practical areas of cooperation

Among the practical areas, the Secretary of State named the development of transport infrastructure, critical minerals supply chains, and specialist training. He promised to improve the infrastructure of the Trans-Caspian trade route and expand partners' opportunities to access the markets of the US and Central Asia. Under the critical minerals dialogue, the plan is to develop integrated high value-added supply chains, as well as to train thousands of young specialists to work with American technologies in the region's growing technology sector. Through the B5+1 business forum, the plan is to facilitate state-business dialogue to significantly increase mutual trade and investment.

Outcomes of last year's meeting

Rubio recalled last year's C5+1 meeting in Washington, in which he took part. 'That meeting at the White House alone produced new deals worth $25 billion, strengthening our transportation, energy and financial sectors,' he said. According to him, US President Donald Trump and the leaders of Central Asian countries then committed to shaping a regulatory environment and labor market conditions conducive to expanding trade and investment; this week's meetings are aimed at fulfilling those agreements.

Statements on sovereignty

'All the countries gathered here this week are distinct, sovereign, independent states with their own cultures and interests. Each determines its own destiny,' Rubio emphasized. He added that the US wants the countries of the region to prosper as independent states and is ready to be their partners on that path.