The key facts
- Marco Rubio visited Uzbekistan for the first time, leading a delegation of more than 100 representatives of American companies
- Meetings in the C5+1 format, launched there in November 2015, will be held in Samarkand
- Main topics: economic cooperation, trade, private investment, energy security
The First Visit by the Head of US Foreign Policy Agency
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio arrived in Uzbekistan on the first-ever visit by the head of American diplomacy in this capacity. As previously reported, he is leading a delegation of more than one hundred representatives of American companies. Advisor to the President of Uzbekistan Saida Mirziyoyeva noted the symbolism of the fact that the first visit by a Secretary of State is taking place precisely in Samarkand. According to her, Rubio emphasized that Samarkand was an important center of international trade for many centuries, and today this foundation serves as a platform for dialogue on expanding cooperation between the two countries.
Agenda: C5+1 and Bilateral Talks
The visit program includes a meeting in Samarkand in the C5+1 format — a dialogue between the foreign policy agencies of the five Central Asian states (Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Turkmenistan) and the United States. Talks with Uzbekistan's leadership and representatives of the countries of the region are also planned. The main topics of the meetings are named as economic cooperation, trade, private investment, energy security and the development of regional interconnectivity.
Samarkand — the Birthplace of the C5+1 Format
Samarkand holds a special place in the history of the C5+1 format: this dialogue mechanism was launched precisely in this city in November 2015. It brings together Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and the United States.
