On October 19, 2026, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and the foreign ministers of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan agreed in Samarkand to pursue closer cooperation on trade, transport, industry, energy, and security.
Their joint statement described the six governments as partners. The statement backed stronger regional economic integration while affirming respect for national sovereignty. The ministers said they would work to expand the Trans-Caspian Trade Route, improve transport links, simplify customs procedures, and increase trade among Central Asian countries.
They also called for stronger industrial cooperation and a more connected regional market, with improved links to the United States. Energy and mineral resources featured on the agenda, alongside investment, digital infrastructure, and efforts to build economic ties. On security, the countries identified counterterrorism and cybersecurity as areas for cooperation.
Rubio was accompanied by more than 200 U.S. business representatives, reflecting the commercial focus of his visit. The meeting returned the C5+1 ministerial format to Samarkand, where its first gathering took place in 2015.