Uzbek Deputy Foreign Minister Dilshod Akhatov met with the EU Special Representative for Central Asia Peter Burian Wednesday, who arrived in Tashkent to attend the EU – Central Asia conference on cooperation in the field of environment, climate change and water use, the Foreign Ministry said in a statement.
The parties reportedly discussed the ways to further expand bilateral cooperation in all key areas, and noted with satisfaction the launch of the negotiation process on the draft Agreement on expanded partnership and cooperation between Uzbekistan and the European Union, with possible holding of the first round of negotiations in early February in Tashkent.
Peter Burian expressed support for Multi-Partner Human Security Trust Fund for the Aral Sea Region initiated by President Shavkat Mirziyoyev, which was established with participation of the UN Secretary-General António Guterres.
He reiterated EU’s readiness to support and provide technical assistance to Uzbekistan in the process of joining the World Trade Organization.
The parties also exchanged views on the schedule of holding various format bilateral meetings, including of Uzbekistan – European Union Cooperation Committee and the Subcommittee on Economy, Trade and Investment, and discussed the possible receiving by Uzbekistan of preferential tariffs as part of the Generalized System of Preferences Plus.
