A C5+1 Welcome Reception for the foreign ministers of Turkmenistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan was held Wednesday at the U.S. Department of State. The event, hosted in the Benjamin Franklin Room, was a key part of the C5+1 meetings in Washington, the State Department reported.

Opening remarks were delivered by U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau, Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman James Risch, U.S. Special Envoy for South and Central Asia Sergio Gor, and Secretary of State Marco Rubio.

Speakers emphasized the United States’ commitment to strengthening cooperation with Central Asia. The U.S. signaled its intention to deepen partnerships with the region, expand bilateral and multilateral ties, and support economic and investment initiatives.

The Washington reception was part of a series of high-level meetings ahead of the U.S.-Central Asia leaders’ summit at the White House, which will mark the tenth anniversary of the C5+1 format.

Established in 2015, the C5+1 format provides a multilateral platform for engagement between the five Central Asian states and the United States. Discussions focus on economic development, regional cooperation, and security issues.