The key facts

  • Rubio did not name dates for a US presidential visit to Uzbekistan, but said Washington wants to arrange it and will work out the timing next year.
  • According to Rubio, US-Uzbekistan relations are developing on the basis of opportunities and mutual economic interests, not problems.
  • The Secretary of State acknowledged that Central Asia has not received due attention from the US for 20 years, but the situation is changing.

Rubio on a possible visit by the US president

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, currently in Samarkand, answered a question from a Kun.uz correspondent about plans for a visit by the US president to Central Asia and Uzbekistan. He said he cannot yet comment on the president's travel schedule, but Washington is interested in such a visit. According to him, next year this issue will be worked on to determine suitable dates. Rubio added that if the opportunity arises, the president would like to come — «he said so himself» — but he cannot name exact dates.

The topic of negotiations and the economic emphasis

Commenting on the agenda of the meeting with his Uzbek counterpart, Rubio noted that it includes many issues of bilateral relations. In his view, Uzbekistan, like other countries of the world, closely follows events on the international stage and their impact on the global economy. The Secretary of State emphasized that many positive changes are taking place in bilateral relations, and they are developing on the basis of opportunities, not problems or contradictions.

Interest of American business

Rubio described Uzbekistan as a rapidly growing economy where great opportunities are being created to improve the well-being of the population, and said American companies are showing interest in this. According to him, the delegation arrived to explore how to expand cooperation. He expressed the conviction that mutual prosperity and shared economic interests are the strongest factor bringing peoples and countries closer together, and it is in this direction that the US intends to work.

Acknowledging insufficient attention to the region

Rubio also acknowledged that Central Asia over the past 20 years has not received the attention from American politicians that it deserved, but, in his words, this situation is changing — «that is why we are here today».