The key facts

  • The foreign ministries of the five Central Asian countries and the US Secretary of State signed a joint statement on October 19 in Samarkand.
  • Priorities: the Trans-Caspian route, regional integration, energy, security, nuclear and cyber security, cultural heritage.
  • The B5+1 platform will continue to create opportunities for American companies in the region.

Signing of the statement in Samarkand

The foreign ministers of Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Turkmenistan and the US Secretary of State on October 19 signed a joint statement following the ministerial meeting in the C5+1 format in Samarkand. The document defines priorities for cooperation between the countries of Central Asia and the United States. The statement notes that this year the countries of the region mark the 35th anniversary of independence, while the United States marks 250 years since gaining independence; the parties expressed their expectation of continuing the partnership 'for many generations to come.'

Trade and economic integration

The parties noted the need to develop the Trans-Caspian transport route to stimulate bilateral trade and investment and open new opportunities in fast-growing markets. The statement says that deepening regional economic integration — through expanding intra-regional trade, improving transport connectivity, harmonizing customs procedures and strengthening industrial cooperation — is intended to create a competitive regional market integrated with the US economy and to return Central Asia 'to the center of the global economy.' The B5+1 platform will continue to create opportunities for American companies in the region, while the governments seek to expand opportunities for Central Asian businesses to invest in the US market. The parties also declared their intention to rely on secure and reliable technologies and to develop e-commerce and innovation.

Energy and natural resources

In the parties' view, strengthening energy partnership between the United States and the countries of Central Asia will help create integrated high value-added supply chains and ensure sustainable economic growth and energy resilience. The statement emphasizes that each of the countries possesses unique reserves of untapped natural resources, and the parties intend to join efforts to develop the energy sector. Broad prospects for the extraction and processing of minerals were noted, as well as expectations that the countries of the region will realize their export potential by increasing the share of high value-added products and mechanisms for bringing them to international markets.

Security and nuclear issues

The parties intend to strengthen cooperation in the field of security within the C5+1 framework, with particular attention to combating terrorism and transnational organized crime, as well as strengthening border security. The statement mentions countering illegal immigration, human trafficking, illicit drug and arms trafficking, as well as deepening cooperation in the field of cybersecurity to counter cybercrime. The parties welcomed long-term cooperation on the security of nuclear materials and, drawing on the experience of creating a nuclear-weapon-free zone in Central Asia, declared their readiness to deepen practical interaction on nuclear safety, nonproliferation guarantees, the physical protection of nuclear materials and the peaceful use of atomic energy.

Cultural heritage

The parties confirmed their commitment to preserving the cultural heritage of all countries participating in the C5+1 format. The statement speaks of plans to develop interaction between law enforcement agencies and cultural institutions to promote and protect the history of the C5+1 countries, to expand professional, cultural and educational exchanges, to use new technologies for the preservation of ancient monuments, to integrate cultural heritage protection issues into the work of law enforcement agencies, and to train highly qualified personnel.