Diversifying from Russia and China main goal as EU and Central Asia meet
The EU and Central Asia will hold their first-ever summit this week to boost trade and diplomatic ties but Russia and China cast a long shadow.
READ MORE : http://www.euronews.com/2025/04/03/diversifying-from-russia-and-china-main-goal-as-eu-and-central-asia-meet
Subscribe to our channel. Euronews is available on Dailymotion in 12 languages
The EU and Central Asia will hold their first-ever summit this week to boost trade and diplomatic ties but Russia and China cast a long shadow.
READ MORE : http://www.euronews.com/2025/04/03/diversifying-from-russia-and-china-main-goal-as-eu-and-central-asia-meet
Subscribe to our channel. Euronews is available on Dailymotion in 12 languages
Category
🗞
NewsTranscript
00:00For the first time ever, the leaders of the EU and Central Asia sit down together in the
00:06historic city of Samarkand, Uzbekistan, to agree on a strategic partnership.
00:12The summit has great geopolitical significance.
00:15Three years into Moscow's war against Ukraine, the two regions are willing to open a new
00:20chapter.
00:23A week ago, EU High Representative Kayakallas prepared the summit in Turkmenistan.
00:33Integrated cooperation between Central Asia and the European Union is one of the most
00:38important strategic vectors of development in Eurasia.
00:44Central Asia consists of five former Soviet republics – Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan,
00:51Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan.
00:53Its population and economy are rapidly growing.
00:57It will be an important milestone in our relationship and we attach great importance to the success
01:08of this summit.
01:12According to diplomats, the EU is willing to address the circumvention of sanctions
01:17against Russia, import natural gas and invest in the mining of raw materials in the region.
01:24Rare earth, what you need for electronics, also for defense equipment and Europeans are
01:32looking for other places where they can get those raw materials.
01:38Definitely also a main issue is energy.
01:43We have cut mainly our import from Russia when it comes to oil and gas.
01:49So there's always the idea of where can we get gas and oil from other places and Turkmenistan
01:54as an example is one of the big gas providers.
01:58The EU is also willing to help the Central Asian region to decrease its dependence on
02:04Russia and China.
02:05That infrastructure is of the essence and China is doing the Belt and Road Initiative
02:12in the area, expanding its grip on Central Asia, while the Europeans are trying also
02:21to offer alternatives to the Chinese Belt and Road Initiatives and investing in infrastructure
02:27as well in the area.
02:30The expert says Europe is expected to walk a fine line on human rights in the region
02:35and will raise the migration issue connected to Afghanistan.