German Chancellor Olaf Scholz arrived in Uzbekistan on Sunday for the first stop of a three-day trip to Central Asia. Migration, oil and tensions with Russia were all on the agenda.
Scholz landed in the historic city of Samarkand on Sunday afternoon, where he will sign several agreements with Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev, including an agreement to facilitate the migration of Uzbek skilled workers to Germany and the repatriation of Uzbeks forced to leave the country.
The chancellor’s tour of Samarkand, a UNESCO World Heritage site and a key stop on the Silk Road, began with a walk through the Registan Public Square, followed by a visit to the 17th-century Tilla Kari Mosque.
He will then travel to Kazakhstan, the largest country and strongest economy in the region, on Monday and Tuesday.
There he will attend a summit with the region’s five former Soviet republics, including Kyrgyzstan, Turkmenistan and Tajikistan, all of which are heavily influenced by heavyweights Russia and China.
Scholz wants to expand relations with the countries in Central Asia and last year entered into a strategic partnership with them in the areas of economy, energy, climate and environment.
In Kazakhstan, talks will focus on oil and gas supplies to Germany and sanctions against Russia, as Astana is accused of being able to circumvent trade restrictions.
Since the outbreak of Russia’s all-out war against Ukraine in February 2022, Germany has been trying to diversify its relations in the region. Previously, the countries focused mainly on economic ties with Russia and China.
