BUDAPEST, October 9. /Dunyo IA/. An international seminar dedicated to strengthening cooperation between the European Union and Central Asia has been held in the capital of Hungary, reports Dunyo IA correspondent.

Event, organized by Eötvös Loránd University and Corvinus University of Budapest, brought together representatives from the EU, Hungary, the diplomatic corps, as well as scientific, expert, and analytical communities from European and Central Asian countries.

Uzbekistan was represented by the Ambassador of Uzbekistan to Hungary Oybek Shakhavdinov, alongside a delegation from the country's leading scientific and analytical institutions. The conference focused on addressing climate change, water and energy security, the development of transport corridors, investment attraction and the expansion of scientific and educational cooperation.

In his address during the opening ceremony and the thematic session, the Ambassador outlined the tangible outcomes of the reforms underway in Uzbekistan and presented the key priorities for further interaction with the EU. Special emphasis was placed on the implementation of the agreements reached during the first “Central Asia – EU” Summit, which took place in Samarkand in April 2025.

The sides also discussed leveraging the opportunities of the “Global Gateway” initiative, the development of green energy and transport infrastructure, the processing of critical raw materials, the implementation of water-saving technologies, and the training of qualified personnel.

Representatives of Uzbekistan participated in expert discussions on water diplomacy, the sustainable management of transboundary water resources and the training of a new generation of specialists.

Possibility of establishing a joint international master's program in water management and water diplomacy within the framework of “Erasmus+” with the participation of universities from Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, and European countries was separately considered.

Following the conference, parties outlined promising areas for joint research and further practical cooperation between Central Asia and the European Union.