AKIPRESS.COM - The European Union and countries of Central Asia are determined to continue their strategic partnership by strengthening engagement and deepening the cooperation and connection between both regions. This was confirmed in the 19th EU-Central Asia Ministerial meeting chaired by the EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Josep Borrell on Monday in Luxembourg. The Foreign Ministers of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan participated in the meeting, together - for the first time - with the 27 EU Member States’ Foreign Ministers. The Commission was represented by the Commissioner for International Partnerships Jutta Urpilainen.

For the EU, the Ministerial meeting was an opportunity to highlight its strong commitment to the region and stress the importance of deeper cooperation in the context of the challenges emerging from regional dynamics, with a focus on the fall-out of Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine and the situation in Afghanistan.

During the Ministerial meeting, participants discussed how to advance inter-regional cooperation on common security challenges, connectivity, economic and trade, environment, water and climate, education, science and innovation issues, and people-to-people contacts, promoting deeper ties between the EU and Central Asia.

Participants reaffirmed the EU’s and Central Asian countries’ determination to uphold the United Nations Charter and the fundamental principles of international law, particularly respect for the independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity of all States. The EU stressed the need to cooperate effectively on preventing circumvention of EU sanctions against Russia through Central Asian territories.