Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) — During his visit to Samarkand, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov commented on the expanding “Central Asia+” cooperation format. According to the head of the Russian Foreign Ministry, the next “Central Asia + Russia” summit is scheduled for October 2025 and will take place on the sidelines of the CIS meeting in Dushanbe.

Lavrov emphasized that cooperation within this format must be mutually beneficial and built on equal agreements acceptable to all parties. He noted that Moscow opposes the politicization of this cooperation and the imposition of ideological agendas, especially by certain external actors.

The minister pointed out that some Western countries and institutions, including the leadership of the European Commission, are attempting to promote an anti-Russian agenda in the region using economic and programmatic tools. Lavrov expressed particular concern over interference in sensitive areas such as statistics, customs administration, and border cooperation.

“Central Asian countries clearly understand the intentions behind these initiatives and are doing their utmost to protect themselves,” Lavrov stated. He added that Russia refrains from interfering in the internal affairs of other states and expects the same from its partners.

It is worth recalling that in early April, Samarkand hosted the “Central Asia – European Union” summit with the participation of the leaders of the five Central Asian nations, President of the European Council António Costa, and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen. The summit concluded with the adoption of a declaration to elevate cooperation to the level of a strategic partnership, encompassing trade, transport, energy, digital connectivity, and water resources.