EU backs construction of transport corridors to Central Asia bypassing Russia

EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Josep Borrell has said that the European Union favours greater cooperation with Central Asian states in building transport corridors bypassing Russia.

"For centuries, Central Asia played a key role, linking the Far East to Europe when goods and ideas flowed back and forth along the Silk Road. But relations need to be nurtured and constantly updated in light of new circumstances. These days, Central Asia is at the centre of events, in geo-strategic and geo-economic terms," the official website of the EU diplomatic service quotes Borrell as saying on November 20.

The EU top diplomat is sure that the Central Asia region is looking to diversify its relationships and that they see the EU as a partner of choice.

"Leaders in the region are undertaking various reform programmes. In addition, relations among Central Asian countries are improving."

"As EU, we have a clear interest to seize on these changes. We must deepen our ties with the region and tap into the vast potential it has to offer, in terms of energy supplies, critical raw materials and new transport corridors that do not depend on Russia (to so-called Middle Corridor or Trans Caspian Corridor)," Borrell added.