Diversifying from Russia and China main goal as EU and Central Asia meet

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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

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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.

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