The Federal Chancellor’s press statement at the Z5+1 meeting
Good relations with the Central Asian countries were “of growing importance for Germany,” said Federal Chancellor Olaf Scholz after his meeting with the five heads of state in Astana. He announced that the cooperation would be expanded further.
2 min reading time
- Transcript of press conference
- Tuesday, 17 September 2024
“Many important questions played a role here,” stressed Federal Chancellor Olaf Scholz in his press statement following the Z5+1 meeting in Astana.
Photo: Federal Government/Marvin Ibo Güngör
Transcript of the press conference in German only
At the end of his trip to Central Asia, Federal Chancellor Olaf Scholz attended the so-called Z5+1 meeting in Astana. “The full spectrum” of relations between Germany, Europe and the region had been addressed during his talks with the five heads of state of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan, said Federal Chancellor Scholz in a press statement.
Before this meeting, the Federal Chancellor had already spoken individually to President Emomali Rahmon of Tajikistan, President Sadyr Japarov of Kyrgyzstan and President Serdar Berdimuhamedow of Turkmenistan. As part of his visit to Central Asia, the Federal Chancellor had already held bilateral talks with Uzbekistan’s President Shavkat Mirziyoyev and the Kazakh head of state Kassym-Jomart Tokayev on the two previous days.
The Federal Chancellor’s trip to Central Asia: On Sunday, Federal Chancellor Scholz set out on his three-day trip (15 to 17 September) to Central Asia, which began with a visit to the city of Sarmakand in Uzbekistan. From there he travelled on to Astana on Monday. As part of his visit to the Kazakh capital, he attended the German-Kazakh business forum.
The most important points from the press statement:
- Promoting business cooperation: In the area of business cooperation, there were “many good, new and additional opportunities that are relevant to us,” said Scholz, mentioning industrial development that could assist Germany in the areas of hydrogen and the expansion of renewable energies as examples. The same was true for extracting and using raw materials, which could also be beneficial to Germany’s supply with raw materials, he said. A top-level business delegation joined Federal Chancellor Scholz on his trip to Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan. This illustrates the great interest the German business sector has in good cooperation with the countries of the region.
- International security: In addition to strengthening trade relations, the security situation in the neighbourhood of Central Asia – such as Taliban-controlled Afghanistan – was another issue discussed. Russia’s war against Ukraine was also addressed, and the Federal Chancellor clarified Germany’s position with regard to support for Ukraine once more. He stressed that in the current situation of Ukraine being attacked in violation of international law, it was key “to bring about a prospect for peace that focusses on the country’s sovereignty and integrity”.