BISHKEK -- The 15th annual European Union (EU)-Central Asia ministerial conference took place Sunday (July 7) in Bishkek, Kazinform reported Monday (July 8).
The attendees included the foreign ministers of Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan, a deputy foreign minister of Turkmenistan and Federica Mogherini, the EU's top diplomat.
The participants exchanged views on the the new EU Strategy for Central Asia and key co-operation issues, according to the Kazakh Foreign Ministry.
They highlighted regional security issues, including the continuation and expansion of the joint Border Management Programme in Central Asia (BOMCA) and the Central Asia Drug Action Programme (CADAP) and the intensification of co-operation through the Central Asian Regional Information and Co-ordination Centre for Combating Illicit Trafficking of Narcotic Drugs, Psychotropic Substances and Their Precursors (CARICC).
The foreign ministers and Mogherini adopted the final communiqué, "EU and Central Asia: Forging a Stronger Partnership Together".
The EU intends to use all available instruments to support the national efforts of the Central Asian countries, the successful integration of the region into the world trading system and the promotion of intraregional co-operation, according to the document.
The next ministerial meeting is expected to take place in Brussels in 2020.
