Uzbekistan President Shavkat Mirziyoyev has proposed the creation of a new regional cooperation organization for Central Asian countries.
According to Modern.az, Mirziyoyev named the new entity the “Central Asian Union” and stated that its purpose is to strengthen economic integration in the region.
He proposed transforming the informal leaders' meetings into a formal regional bloc.
The Uzbek leader also emphasized the necessity of expanding cooperation in the economic, security, and environmental spheres.
Central Asia, rich in energy and mineral resources, has for many years been subject to Russian influence economically and politically, but recently the region has come into the focus of the West. China, meanwhile, is further strengthening its commercial influence in the region.
The reaction of other countries to the proposal has not yet been announced. However, in recent years, the five Central Asian states have repeatedly declared their desire for regional integration. It should be recalled that this year Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan resolved a long-standing border conflict that claimed the lives of dozens of people.
Earlier this month, Central Asian leaders jointly visited Washington to meet with US President Donald Trump. Shavkat Mirziyoyev also stated during his speech that the five countries voted for Azerbaijan to join the regular meetings held in this format.
It should be recalled that at the VII Consultative Meeting of the Heads of Central Asian States, chaired by Uzbekistan President Shavkat Mirziyoyev, the Republic of Azerbaijan's full membership in the regional format was announced.
