French President Emmanuel Macron has said his country must increase its influence in Central Asia as Europe, Russia, China and Türkiye vie for influence in the resource-rich region.
Macron is in Uzbekistan - the first trip by a French president to the country in nearly 30 years - to boost France's business and cultural profile, AFP reported.
The French president used the trip to support Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev's program to open the country to global investors.
"Uzbekistan is transforming. We must be there," Macron said at the opening of a Franco-Uzbek business forum in the ancient city of Samarkand, which is part of the Silk Road.
After decades of isolation following the collapse of the USSR, Mirziyoyev is trying to attract global investment and improve the image of the former Soviet state.
Critics and rights groups say Uzbekistan is still highly authoritarian, with political opposition and dissent banned.
Last year, 21 people were killed in clashes between police and protesters in a rare episode of civil protests.
Paris highlighted the "dynamics of reforms" in the country and said it regularly raises issues related to the rule of law.
"The French government has confidence in your strategy," Macron told Mirziyoyev.
"We believe in this policy. We encourage it and we want to participate in it."
The two leaders were pictured greeting each other with a long hug when Macron arrived on the evening of November 1.
The French leader's trip to the region is being closely watched by Moscow and Beijing, which have long-standing ties in Central Asia.
The region is key to China's massive One Belt One Road infrastructure project, and Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan are part of the Moscow-led military alliance.
But with Moscow waging war in Ukraine, other powers sense an opportunity to increase their influence in the region.
On November 1, Macron thanked Kazakhstan for "refusing to become a vassal" of larger powers that want to dominate.
Kazakhstan is a close ally of Russia, but did not support the invasion of neighboring Ukraine and has vowed to enforce international sanctions against Moscow.
The Kremlin met Macron's visit coolly, warning France and other EU countries not to "intimidate" countries with ties to Russia.
"Each country and the Central Asian countries naturally have the right to their own foreign policy," said Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova.
"But there is an anti-Russian narrative that Western countries and Western leaders include in their contacts with a number of countries and in particular with the countries of Central Asia," she added.
Mirziyoyev said that the French president's visit has "historical significance" and that the two have "agreed to develop bilateral relations to the level of a strategic partnership."
About 60 French business leaders accompanied Macron on his trip.
Several agreements were signed in the fields of energy, minerals and transport, including with French uranium giant Orano, which said it had mined 350 kilograms of uranium in a pilot project and intends to increase its presence in the country. /BGNES
