Azernews.Az

By Nigar Orujova

The intensification of Central Asia's role for the European Union countries contributes to the development of mutually beneficial relations, EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton said at a ministerial meeting in Bishkek, KyrTAG news agency reported.

The meeting of Central Asian and European Union foreign ministers was held in the Kyrgyz capital on Tuesday.

Ashton noted the potential for cooperation in such fields as energy, trade and economy.

"The EU plans to support Central Asian efforts in political and economical reforms in order to be able to strengthen the bilateral relations' potential to address challenges the sides encounter," Ashton said.

According to her, while summarizing the implementation of the five-year EU strategy on Central Asia, it is still important to continue work on cooperation in various areas.

The EU welcomes the commitment of the Central Asian states for the principles of the World Trade Organization, Ashton stressed.

"Kyrgyzstan pays great attention to the improvement of ties between the EU and Central Asia," Kyrgyz Foreign Minister Erlan Abdildayev said at the meeting.

Abdildayev said that the Central Asian countries are interested in developing multilateral relations with Europe, especially in the sectors of trade and economy. He said the sides should use full potential of the EU-Central Asian relations.

The meeting discussed a wide range of issues in the spheres of cooperation and security.

The Central Asia and EU representatives exchanged views on the state and prospects of inter-regional relations, discussed fulfillment of the EU strategy on Central Asia, as well as topical international and regional issues.

The previous "EU - Central Asia" meeting at the level of foreign ministers was held in Tashkent in April 2011.

The foreign ministers of Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan and Turkmenistan are among the participants of the meeting.

After the "EU - Central Asia" meeting in Bishkek, Catherine Ashton will visit Uzbekistan to hold bilateral talks with Foreign Minister Abdulaziz Kamilov on Wednesday. The meeting with President Islam Karimov is also expected, the Uzbek Foreign Ministry said.