The Foreign Secretary will visit Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan,
Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, Kazakhstan and Mongolia to as part of
government ambition to increase engagement with this pivotal
region of the world. He will meet leaders across the region to
deepen cooperation on shared challenges, from counter-terrorism
to climate change.
He will support global opportunities for young people, by
ensuring that English language teachers across the region will
have access to tailored British Council English language teaching
materials. He will double the amount of funding for Chevening
scholarships, so more people can study at Britain's world-class
universities.
He will support British business to create jobs and growth from
Bridgend to Bishkek. He will show that British business provides
the sustainable, quality investment that can drive growth without
compromising the region's hard won sovereignty.
The Foreign Secretary, David Cameron, said:
We live in a contested, competitive world. If you want to protect
and promote British interests you need to get out there and
compete.
Central Asia is at the epicentre of some of the biggest
challenges we face and it's vital for the UK and the region that
we drive forward its future prosperity.
The Foreign Secretary will anchor top-level relationships between
the UK and Central Asian states and Mongolia, solidifying our
role as a long-term partner in the region. He will advance
discussions on sanctions circumvention, human rights and reform.
He will use the visit to announce £50 million new development
funding for the Central Asia and Eastern Neighbourhood region
over the next three years. UK funding will not only boost
regional growth and economic resilience but build trade and
cooperation between our countries, making the region and the UK
safer and more prosperous.
During the visit, the Foreign Secretary will visit an array of
important sites including a hydro-electric project in Tajikistan,
a canal irrigation site in Kyrgyzstan and a cultural site in
Mongolia.
David Cameron is the first British Foreign Secretary to visit
Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Turkmenistan and the first to
Uzbekistan since 1997. It is also the first visit to Mongolia at
this level in over decade. This week's visit underlines the UK
government's ambition to increase engagement with this pivotal
region, and is a crucial moment to drive forward British values,
build our geopolitical relationship and deliver opportunities for
people in the region and the UK.
