Bishkek: The Foreign Ministers of Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan, the First Deputy Foreign Minister of the Kyrgyz Republic, as well as the European Union’s (EU) High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy/Vice-President of the European Commission and European Commissioner for International Partnerships held the 16th EU-Central Asia ministerial meeting on 17 November 2020. The meeting exceptionally took place through video-conference, given the restrictions caused by the Covid-19 pandemic, European Union External Action said.
The participants reaffirmed their joint commitment to forging a strong, ambitious and forward-looking partnership that builds upon the strong mutual interests between the two regions. They reaffirmed their commitment to work together for peace, security, universal human rights, democracy and sustainable development in full respect for international law.
The participants discussed the repercussions of the Covid19 pandemic for their respective regions and stressed their determination to work together to promote resilience, prosperity and a green, sustainable and inclusive post-Covid recovery.
The Central Asian Ministers expressed strong appreciation for the “Team Europe” solidarity package worth EUR 134 million delivered to the region to meet the immediate needs of healthcare systems and address longer-term socio-economic challenges. – Agencies
