Bishkek to host first EU-CA Economic Forum in November

AKIPRESS.COM - On July 1, a delegation of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Kyrgyz Republic headed by First Deputy Minister Nuran Niyazaliev took part in a meeting of the EU-CA High-Level Political and Security Dialogue in Tashkent, reports the foreign ministry. The main topics of the meeting were current events in the region, cooperation between Central Asia and the EU in the field of security, in particular the fight against terrorism and extremism, drug trafficking andborder management. Particular attention is paid to the issues of climate change and environmental problems. In addition, they discussed project activities in the context of the EU Regional Indicative Program for Central Asia for 2021-2027.
In his speech, First Deputy Minister Niyazaliev noted that trade, economic, energy, transport and other types of interaction aimed at developing the national economies of Central Asian countries are a solid basis for ensuring stability and security in the region. He expressed the readiness of the Kyrgyz side for constructive and mutually beneficial regional cooperation to achieve common environmental goals, including within the framework of the implementation of the Paris Agreement and the Sustainable Development Goals. It was also emphasized that the Kyrgyz Republic has always advocated and continues to support the solution of existing common problems and challenges only through political and diplomatic dialogue, settlement of disputes at the negotiating table and without the use of force or the threat of the use of force.
The participants of the meeting got acquainted with the progress of vaccination campaigns in Central Asia and EU and discussed the ways of post-COVID recovery of the region's economy.
Issue of possible consequences for the region of the withdrawal of NATO troops from Afghanistan was also raised at the meeting. The European side and the Central Asian states were invited to concentrate joint work on the stability of the peace process in Afghanistan through the implementation of regional economic and educational projects.
At the end of the meeting, the participants of the EU-CA Dialogue discussed the preparation for the upcoming high-level meetings and expressed support and interest in holding the First EU-CA Economic Forum in November 2021 in Bishkek.