Josep Borrell: "Central Asian region is becoming key player on global stage"

"As you know, we live in turbulent times. I am not going to dwell on the economic aspects, but I want to talk about the geopolitical moment in which we live. At the very least, I can say that the EU and Central Asia have been and remain in a state of turmoil. We have survived the global challenge of the coronavirus pandemic. It seems like it was a long time ago, but it wasn't. And now that we have emerged from the COVID-19 pandemic and the economic turmoil it caused, we are faced with old and new crises, on the one hand, geographical, and on the other, in our districts and regions. First, we have witnessed a rapid escalation in Afghanistan in 2021. Indeed, to be effective, we need the full cooperation of our partners. We closely monitor trade with Central Asian countries and trade with Russia. We are trying to analyze which mechanisms can be avoided. Closer partnerships are needed to solve global problems. And global challenges are an important goal of the Global Gate. Indeed, there is a need to build infrastructure and improve communications in the robotics space. But it all serves a political purpose: to strengthen partnerships and ensure a better future by strengthening economic ties and maintaining common values. And in this very difficult geopolitical situation, Central Asia is an important partner for us. When I arrived in Brussels four years ago, Central Asia was a little out of the way. Central Asia is a key link between Europe and Asia. Everything important between Europe and Asia passes through Central Asia. This is why our partnership with you is so important to us. It has a rich history and culture. We remember how, hundreds of years ago, the first travelers from Europe came here to discover something new and returned in complete awe of your beauty and impressive architectural heritage. Economy and security - these two words will become even closer when we talk about the economy."