The key facts

  • Marco Rubio arrived in Uzbekistan for the C5+1 ministerial meeting and the second session of the business and investment council
  • New agreements worth $12 billion were reached at the council session; trade turnover has grown by 35% since the beginning of the year
  • The parties highlighted cooperation potential in critical minerals, energy, transport, AI and digital technologies

Meeting in Tashkent

On October 19, President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev received US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who arrived in the country to take part in the ministerial meeting in the C5+1 format and in the second session of the US-Uzbekistan Business and Investment Council. At the start of the meeting, Rubio conveyed to Mirziyoyev greetings and best wishes from US President Donald Trump. The main focus was on strengthening the strategic partnership and the consistent implementation of agreements reached at the highest level.

Outcomes of the C5+1 format

The parties highly assessed the outcomes of the next ministerial meeting in the C5+1 format (in the Kun.uz publication the format is designated as S5+1), which confirmed the mutual interest of the United States and the Central Asian countries in strengthening dialogue and expanding cooperation. The intensification of bilateral interaction in politics and security, trade and investment, innovation and technology, education and culture was noted. Dialogue between parliaments and agencies has been established, and ties between business circles and the academic community are expanding.

Security and strategic dialogue

Cooperation in the security sphere is strengthening in the areas of combating terrorism, extremism, drug trafficking and illegal migration. An important step was the creation of the Enhanced Strategic Partnership Dialogue: following its first session, a number of documents were signed, including the Artemis Accords on the peaceful exploration of space.

Economy: $12 billion in new agreements

Economic cooperation remains one of the main pillars of the strategic partnership. Since the beginning of the year, mutual trade turnover has grown by 35%. Under the economic cooperation program, major projects are being implemented in civil aviation, automotive manufacturing, mining, energy, agriculture, digitalization and finance. The important role of the Business and Investment Council was emphasized: at its session today, new agreements worth $12 billion were reached.

Humanitarian sphere and new prospects

Humanitarian cooperation is expanding: Webster University, the University of American Technologies and a competency center of the Colorado School of Mines operate in Tashkent, and the number of American tourists in Uzbekistan is growing. The parties identified new prospects for practical cooperation, noting significant potential in strategically important critical minerals, energy, transport, artificial intelligence and digital technologies. Special attention was given to interregional ties and mutual visits of business delegations.

International agenda

An exchange of views took place on current issues of international politics and regional security. The plan of upcoming events involving the leaders of the two countries and issues of their substantive content were also discussed.