Rubio and Kazakh foreign minister discuss trade, investment and security cooperation in Samarkand

By Elena Teslova

MOSCOW (AA) - US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and his Kazak counterpart discussed expanding trade, investment, and security cooperation during a meeting in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, the US State Department and Kazakhstan's Foreign Ministry said on Monday.

Rubio and Foreign Minister Tleuberdi “discussed ways to advance the U.S.-Kazakhstan Enhanced Strategic Partnership ahead of the upcoming G20 summit in December," said the State Department.

Rubio reaffirmed Washington's interest in expanding bilateral economic cooperation, including in artificial intelligence, information, and communications technology infrastructure, energy security, and natural resource development, the statement said.

The top US diplomat also stressed the importance of US-Kazakhstan security cooperation and the platform with the US and five Central Asian nations for building a more interconnected, resilient, and prosperous Central Asia.

The department said Rubio thanked Kazakhstan for its strong support for US President Donald Trump's peace initiatives and welcomed the country's commitment to join the Abraham Accords and its role as a “proactive partner.”

According to Kazakhstan's Foreign Ministry, Tleuberdi and Rubio also discussed implementing agreements reached at the highest level, including ones from a meeting last November between Trump and Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev.

Tleuberdi highlighted the importance of strengthening business ties, attracting US investment and advanced technologies, and expanding cooperation in energy, critical minerals, digitalization, transport, and logistics.

"The foreign ministers of the two countries discussed the prospects for further development of the expanded strategic partnership with an emphasis on strengthening trade, economic and investment cooperation," it said.

Both sides noted positive momentum in bilateral relations and expressed interest in increasing trade and implementing joint investment projects, the ministry said.

The two officials also exchanged views on preparations for the upcoming G20 summit in Miami, Florida.

Rubio confirmed his interest in making an official visit to Kazakhstan soon after the summit, according to the Kazakh Foreign Ministry.

The meeting took place on the sidelines of a ministerial gathering in Samarkand bringing together the US and the five Central Asian countries -- Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan.