The text of the following statement was released by the Governments of the United States of America, Kazakhstan, the Kyrgyz Republic, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan on the occasion of the C5+1 Ministerial in Samarkand.
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We, the Foreign Ministers of Kazakhstan, the Kyrgyz Republic, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan, and the United States Secretary of State, on the occasion of the October 19, 2026, C5+1 Ministerial in Samarkand, share a vision for enduring U.S.-Central Asian partnership.
We envision the United States and Central Asia as enduring partners of choice.
More than ten years ago, the first C5+1 Ministerial took place, marking an important step in the development of a diplomatic platform grounded in our shared respect for the sovereignty, independence, and territorial integrity of all nations.
This year, as Kazakhstan, the Kyrgyz Republic, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan celebrate 35 years of independence, and the United States commemorates a remarkable 250 years of independence, we are looking forward to many more generations of enduring partnership.
As C5+1 governments affirm the importance of friendship among sovereign nations, we honor our countries' historical contributions, seize opportunities of the present, and strive for a more peaceful and prosperous future for the citizens of each of our nations. We look forward to nurturing the peaceful resolutions of disputes, leading to ever-strengthening dialogue and cooperation among our countries.
We envision ever-strengthening connections between the United States and Central Asia.
It is here, at the crossroads of connectivity, where we reflect on the historic connections that bind the United States and Central Asia and find innovative ways to strengthen them. Where distance once limited our citizens' dreams to experience each other's remarkable destinations, we are creating new and modern transportation links. Along the Trans-Caspian Trade Route, we are strengthening mutually beneficial partnerships and investing in infrastructure to smooth the way. We are forging digital connections and community, including through English language training and education, for the purpose of bridging geographical divides and bringing the people of C5+1 countries ever closer together.
We envision a Central Asia central to the global economy.
We will strive for a Central Asia that returns to the center of the global economy. Our shared efforts to further develop the Trans-Caspian Trade Route will catalyze unprecedented two-way trade and investment between Central Asia and the United States and unlock opportunities in high-growth markets.
As we support greater regional economic integration in Central Asia, including through the expansion of intraregional trade, improved transport connectivity, harmonized customs procedures, and stronger industrial cooperation, we are creating a competitive regional market connected with the United States.
A thriving B5+1 platform will continue to create new mutually beneficial commercial opportunities for American companies operating in Central Asia. At the same time, our governments envision expanded opportunities for Central Asian enterprises to invest in, and operate within, the U.S. market. By leveraging secure and trusted technology, American technological excellence, and the growing technology sectors of Central Asia, we seek to foster a region where e-commerce flourishes, innovative solutions abound, and talented entrepreneurs thrive.
We envision cooperation that energizes the future.
We recognize that strengthening U.S.-Central Asian energy cooperation will galvanize efforts to develop integrated, high-value supply chains that yield sustained economic growth and energy resilience. Each of our countries has a unique collection of untapped natural resources; we will combine our strengths to be a collective, powerful driver of regional energy sector development. Data is gold; as such, we intend to exchange expertise and best practices on managing geological data. We envision expanded opportunities for mineral extraction and processing that maximize benefits for our respective countries. We also envision Central Asia realizing its export potential by developing innovative ways to increase value-added products within the region and creating pathways to introduce these products to the international market.
We envision a secure future for all C5+1 countries.
The people of the United States and Central Asia will benefit from strengthened C5+1 security cooperation. Our governments will place particular importance on countering terrorism and transnational organized crime and enhancing border security. Our efforts will strengthen security, including through cooperation to counter illegal immigration, human trafficking, illicit drug trafficking, and arms trafficking. In turn, our cooperation will strengthen customs and trade facilitation, thereby enabling economic growth that benefits all C5+1 countries. A modern approach that focuses on mitigating threats of the digital era, including through enhanced C5+1 cyber security cooperation, will strengthen our ability to successfully counter cyber threats and cybercrime.
We welcome the longstanding cooperation between the United States and the countries of Central Asia in securing nuclear materials and recognize joint contributions to strengthening nuclear security expertise and capacity in the region. Building on the Central Asian Nuclear-Weapon-Free Zone, we will deepen practical cooperation on nuclear security, safeguards, the physical protection of nuclear material, and the peaceful use of nuclear energy.
We envision a future that honors the past.
As we seize opportunities within cutting edge industries of the modern era, we reaffirm our commitment to preserve the rich cultural legacies of all C5+1 countries.
As we recall the remarkable contributions our peoples have made throughout history, we intend to create new avenues for cultural heritage cooperation and strategic connections among our populations. We will pursue greater cooperation between law enforcement and cultural institutions to promote and protect the unique histories of C5+1 countries. Together, we seek to expand professional, cultural, and educational exchanges; capitalize on new technologies to preserve and protect antiquities; integrate cultural heritage protection with law enforcement efforts; and professionalize a talented workforce ready to lead on the global stage.
As we enhance our business ties in cultural sectors such as tourism and the creative economy, we will create the jobs of the future while we embrace the past. With the lessons from our collective experience, we will forge a more prosperous future together.
We envision C5+1 cooperation that continues to deliver regional solutions to global challenges.
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