President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev addressed the second Central Asia-Germany Summit in Astana, Kazakhstan, the presidential press service said.
"We highly appreciate Germany's firm and unwavering support for the ongoing democratic transformations and socio-economic reforms in our countries, partnership and integration in Central Asia," the president said.
"Today we consider Germany as one of the important partners in achieving national sustainable development goals," he emphasized.
In his remarks, the Uzbek leader outlined his vision of the main areas of cooperation with Germany in Central Asia.
Strategic regional partnership between Central Asia and Germany
“It would be appropriate to adopt a long-term concept for the development of such a partnership with program activities in priority areas.”
"To develop this document, we propose considering the possibility of establishing the Central Asia-Germany Analytical Center Forum. Its first meeting is ready to be held next year in Khiva, one of the historical cities of the region, where a large community of German Mennonites lived.”
Investment and transfer of technology by German companies
Today the portfolio of projects in Uzbekistan with the participation of German companies exceeds 20 billion euros. They cover such areas as energy, chemical and mining industries, mechanical engineering, textile and food industries, agriculture, transport and logistics, and the production of building materials.
“I propose to develop a “road map” for expanding investment and technology cooperation between the countries of Central Asia and Germany, including attracting leading German companies and banks to implement projects in special economic and industrial zones in border areas, as well as launching a permanent platform for business dialogue - the Council of Investors and Entrepreneurs “Central Asia and Germany”.
“Uzbekistan is ready to hold the first meeting next year within the framework of the Tashkent Investment Forum”.
Critical minerals with advanced knowledge and technologies from Germany
"Our region is rich in mineral resources. The German Mineral Resources Agency and German companies could become our key partners in this area. We are talking about projects for geological exploration, intensive development, processing and production of products with high added value, organizing deliveries to Germany and other countries of the European Union. Uzbekistan is ready for the joint implementation of such projects in neighboring countries".
"We also consider it important to form a reliable legal framework for such cooperation," the president noted.
Green energy
The Central Asian countries have been actively developing "green" energy in recent years and proposed considering the possibility of launching an Energy Dialogue between Central Asian countries and Germany.
"We seek to prepare a Comprehensive Program for enhancing the potential of specialists in the field of low-carbon economy with the involvement of technical assistance from Germany," he added.
Climate change
"Experts predict that the Central Asian region will remain the most vulnerable to the effects of global warming. The increase in average temperatures will be twice as high as the world average".
“I express gratitude to the German side for launching the second phase of the Green Central Asia program. We are interested in conducting joint educational programs and scientific exchanges based on the Central Asian University for Environmental and Climate Change Studies, adopting cooperation programs to introduce German technologies for rational water use, modernize irrigation systems, preserve biodiversity, and train environmental specialists".
“I support the initiative of the German Chancellor to create the Central Asian Nature Partnership and Uzbekistan is ready to take an active part in it.”
Development of transport corridors
"The biggest barrier to deepening our partnership is the poor development of transport communications, including land and air transportation. We count on Germany's assistance in attracting European institutions to the development of alternative transport corridors connecting Central Asia with Europe".
“I propose to hold a joint ministerial conference next year to find ways to increase the transit potential of such routes.”
“We need to adopt a joint plan of cultural events and proposed considering the possibility of holding Days of Art and Cinema of Central Asia in major cities of Germany.”
“An exhibition of the cultural and historical heritage of the Central Asian region held last year at the New Museum in Berlin "once again demonstrated the demand" for organizing such events. Over the several months of the exhibition, it was visited by more than half a million residents and guests of the capital of Germany.”
"In the area of scientific and educational exchange, we consider it relevant to launch a platform for partnership between leading universities, develop programs to expand cooperation in the field of dual education, training of German language teachers with the involvement of the Goethe Institute and other organizations in Germany".
“Uzbekistan also considers it important to continue close cooperation on the fight against terrorism, extremism and cybercrime”.
"The security situation in Central Asia is inextricably linked with the processes taking place in Afghanistan. We consider it important to prevent the aggravation of the humanitarian crisis in this country, which is essentially left alone with its problems".
“Uzbekistan is ready to cooperate with Germany and other European partners in implementing joint projects to involve Afghanistan in regional economic cooperation.”
“I would like to emphasize that Uzbekistan is interested in more fully realizing the potential of multifaceted cooperation between Germany and the Central Asian region”.
