In New York City, within the framework of the 79th session of the UN General Assembly, a ministerial meeting of the "C5+1" took place with the participation of Kazakhstan's Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Murat Nurtleu, Kyrgyzstan's Foreign Minister Jeenbek Kulubaev, Tajikistan's Minister of Foreign Affairs Sirojiddin Muhriddin, Uzbekistan's Minister of Foreign Affairs Bakhtiyor Saidov, Turkmenistan's Deputy Chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers and Minister of Foreign Affairs Rashid Meredov, and U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken.
The foreign ministers "reaffirmed the importance of the C5+1 regional platform for achieving common security goals, including addressing transnational challenges, economic prosperity, and promoting human rights, including the empowerment of women, protection of children, and people with disabilities," the press service of Kazakhstan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs reported.
Secretary of State Blinken noted that 2025 will mark the tenth anniversary of strong U.S.-Central Asia cooperation within the C5+1 platform and emphasized "the United States' commitment to seeking regional solutions to global challenges in partnership with the countries of the region."
The participants also highlighted the timeliness of launching the B5+1 platform (business dialogue) and the Critical Minerals Dialogue, whose practical outcomes could drive economic growth.
CentralasianLIGHT.org
October 4, 2024