President Shavkat Mirziyoyev, who is on a working visit to New York, met with the President of the European Council Charles Michel on September 18.

According to the press service of the Uzbek president, the parties reviewed the ways to expand Uzbek-European cooperation in the political, trade, economic, investment and humanitarian areas.

The parties also discussed “the early adoption of the Expanded Partnership and Cooperation Agreement, the creation of favorable conditions for increasing the two-way trade and investment, as well as deepening cooperation in the main sectors of the economy,” the statement said.

“The European Union is committed to deepening relations between the EU and Uzbekistan in all areas,” Charles Michel said at the meeting.

“The signing and implementation of the Enhanced Partnership and Cooperation Agreement and our strategic partnership with Central Asia will be an important step forward,” he noted.

“We look forward to our first official EU-Central Asia summit next year,” added the head of the European Council.

Special attention at the negotiations was paid to the development of effective international transport corridors, in particular the Trans-Caspian multimodal route.

They also exchange views on the situation in Afghanistan, including efforts to provide humanitarian assistance to the Afghan people.

Since the beginning of the year, Uzbekistan’s trade with EU countries has increased by 35%, large investment projects are being implemented with leading European companies, and significant cultural events are being held.

Shavkat Mirziyoyev and Charles Michel previously met at the second Central Asian-EU summit in Cholpon-Ata (Kyrgyzstan) in June. In October 2022, Charles Michel visited Uzbekistan.