Unlike others 'we're reliable', EU tells Central Asia, as it seeks greater access to rare earths
Russia and China loomed large over the first EU-Central Asia summit as both sides aimed to boost trade and diplomatic ties.
READ MORE : http://www.euronews.com/2025/04/04/unlike-others-were-reliable-eu-tells-central-asia-as-it-seeks-greater-access-to-rare-earth
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Russia and China loomed large over the first EU-Central Asia summit as both sides aimed to boost trade and diplomatic ties.
READ MORE : http://www.euronews.com/2025/04/04/unlike-others-were-reliable-eu-tells-central-asia-as-it-seeks-greater-access-to-rare-earth
Subscribe to our channel. Euronews is available on Dailymotion in 12 languages
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00:00It's the final day of the inaugural EU-Central Asia Summit in the Uzbek city of Samarkand,
00:08where top EU officials have been meeting with the leaders of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan,
00:14Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan to discuss boosting trade and strengthening ties.
00:21European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen began the day by announcing a 12 billion
00:27euro investment package to finance regional projects in transport, critical raw materials,
00:33water, energy and climate, and digital connectivity.
00:38Strategic location can open global trade routes and investment flows and these new investments
00:46will enhance sovereignty. They will strengthen your economies and most importantly they will
00:54make new friendships.
00:57The summit comes amid the region's pivot away from Moscow following Russia's invasion
01:02of Ukraine, a shift that Europe has seized on as an opportunity to present itself as
01:07a reliable partner in the face of global instability.
01:13In today's international context, the importance of a functioning rules-based multilateral
01:19order cannot be overstated. Our meeting today encourages even more European Union-Central
01:29Asia cooperation in multilateral fora, reinforcing our shared commitment to a peaceful and prosperous
01:39global order.
01:41The EU's strategy on Central Asia also highlights the increasing strategic significance of
01:47the region, which is on the front lines of climate change, plays a crucial role in security
01:52and is rich in natural resources.
01:56They don't only have huge reserves of uranium, fourth largest reserves of gold in the world,
02:01but copper, various rare earths which are all essential to digital growth, new economies
02:08and it's here.
02:09Leaders signed a joint declaration on establishing strategic partnership and agreed to hold similar
02:15summits every two years.