Uzbekistan and the EU discussed the upcoming summit in Samarkand.

The first telephone conversation took place between the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Uzbekistan, Bakhtiyor Saidov, and the new High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Vice-President of the European Commission, Kaia Kallas. The central topic of discussion was the preparation for the "Central Asia – EU" summit, which is planned to be held in Samarkand in the first half of this year.

According to a message published by Bakhtiyor Saidov on his Telegram channel, the parties exchanged views on a wide range of issues related to bilateral and multilateral cooperation. Special attention was paid to strengthening the partnership between Uzbekistan and the European Union, as well as the prospects for developing interactions between Central Asia and the EU as a whole.

It is worth noting that Kaia Kallas officially took office as the EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy on December 1, 2024. Thus, this telephone conversation marked the first contact of the new head of European diplomacy with the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Uzbekistan.

Bakhtiyor Saidov highlighted the progress achieved in Uzbek-European relations and expressed confidence in the further development of cooperation. “Significant results have already been achieved, and new accomplishments are expected ahead. We eagerly anticipate the holding of the "Central Asia – EU" summit this year in Samarkand,” the press service of the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Uzbekistan quoted him.

The summit was initially scheduled for spring 2024; however, it was postponed due to the formation of a new European Union government. The former EU Special Representative for Central Asia, Terhi Hakala, emphasized the importance of this event for strengthening high-level dialogue between the EU and Central Asian countries in a December interview with “Gazeta.uz.” She expressed gratitude to the Uzbek side for its readiness to host the summit and confirmed that the new EU leadership attaches great importance to this event. The EU Ambassador to Uzbekistan, Toivo Klaar, previously stated that the summit is planned to be held in the first half of 2025.

The holding of the "Central Asia – EU" summit in Samarkand will be a significant milestone in the development of relations between the regions and will allow for discussions on pressing cooperation issues in various areas, including politics, economy, security, and cultural-humanitarian interaction.