Speaking to reporters during the visit to Registan Square in Samarkand, the U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said today that Washington had no intention of lecturing Central Asian countries which nations they should cooperate with.

“We didn’t come here to demand that you stop talking to somebody else or stop working with some other country. This is about ensuring that every part of the world that is opening its doors to American business and commerce, that we are available, that we are showing up and we are there. That is what is all about it,” Rubio said.

He was responding to a question about what the United States could offer to the Central Asian countries as China continues to strengthen its position in the region.

Rubio said Washington wanted fair competition and opportunities.

“There is no part of the world where we feel like that America and American business should not have a fair shot to compete. That is what we seek to do,” he said.

He added said the people have understood the importance of Central Asia, and Uzbekistan in particular. He described the country's achievements as incredible in the last decade in terms of economic growth and prosperity.

According to Rubio, the United States want to identify opportunities on things they can work together on and it is not a negative action against any other country. “Countries want to have as many relationships as possible. Uzbekistan has been clear, they want to be friends to everybody. That is whye we have come her with 300 American businesses, who are looking forward to see what opportunities exist” he concluded.