U.S. Department of State says Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken hosted a virtual C5+1 Ministerial for the Foreign Ministers of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyz Republic, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan on April 23. The C5+1 enhances cooperation and coordination with, and among, Central Asian countries plus the United States.
U.S. Secretary Blinken reportedly emphasized continued U.S. commitment to the independence, sovereignty, and territorial integrity of the C5. He also highlighted the five-year anniversary of the C5+1 and the 30-year anniversary of the C5 countries’ independence and our bilateral relations with each country.
U.S. Secretary Blinken and the C5 Foreign Ministers discussed the Afghanistan peace process, COVID-19 recovery, and climate change.
The U.S. Secretary of State announced a two-year project supporting women’s business associations across Central Asia as part of the Women and Girls Empowered (WAGE) Program. The group supported continued efforts through existing C5+1 working groups on economy, energy and environment, and security to further advance shared goals
The C5+1 is a format for dialogue and a platform for joint efforts to address common challenges faced by the United States and the five Central Asian states.
The first C5+1 ministerial meeting took place in Samarqand (Uzbekistan) in November 2015. The six foreign ministers agreed to focus on three sectors of common interest – security, economics, and environmental challenges.
Since the inception of the C5+1 dialogue, the Central Asian countries have been increasingly interested in regional approaches and view the C5+1 as a catalyst for common action.
