Brussels, Apr. 4, (dpa/GNA) – European Union Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and Council President António Costa agreed to improve economic cooperation with five Central Asian states on Friday during a summit in Samarkand in Uzbekistan.

The cooperation in the areas of business, trade and investment is part of a new strategic partnership, the EU leaders and the presidents of the participating countries said in a joint statement.

The leaders of Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Kyrgyzstan were all present.

The EU announced an investment programme amounting to €12 billion ($13.3 billion) for the region.

“In an uncertain world, we send a clear and powerful message: we are partners of choice, and we can rely on each other,” von der Leyen said.

Responding to a question about how the EU could lure countries away from greater cooperation with China and Russia, von der Leyen said that Russia had long shown that it was not a reliable partner.

She also warned that cooperation with China had risks when the conditions are unclear and China buys critical raw materials for processing back in China.

Summit chairman Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev said: “Our summit will result in a historic decision to establish a strategic partnership between Central Asia and the EU.”

GNA

PDC