priorities are sound investments and adherence to social, environmental, security and human
rights standards.
That is how our offer differs from China’s Belt and Road Initiative. We regard adherence
to these standards as essential in order to prevent market distortion and political upheaval.
Only in this way will the people in Uzbekistan and Central Asia as a whole truly benefit from new
investments in a lasting way.
In other words, we want a partnership in which both sides make use of the opportunities
and share the risks. We call for a rules-based world order in which norms and standards are
negotiated together and fairly. In short, we want to be able to rely on one another.
Ladies and gentlemen,
Three weeks ago, German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas addressed his audience at the
opening of the Business Forum of the German Ambassadors Conference as “fellow
multilateralists”. It is in this spirit that I want to speak to you today.
As you know, multilateralism has many mighty opponents these days – unfortunately
also in Europe.
I am therefore all the more happy to be here with you today – because you want to move
this country and the region of Central Asia forward, in cooperation with others – as
multilateralists. I am fully convinced that collective action gets better results than going it
alone.
I think that especially here – in Uzbekistan and in Central Asia – conditions are now
particularly good for establishing people-to-people contacts and close, trusting cooperation
among states. Recent developments in Uzbekistan and the region show that regional
cooperation is possible.
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