WEBVTT 00:02.119 --> 00:05.230 Ladies and gentlemen , Welcome to the 00:05.230 --> 00:06.286 State Department . 00:09.220 --> 00:11.331 Everyone who's outside , come on in . 00:11.500 --> 00:13.722 We got a lot of people here . This is a 00:13.722 --> 00:15.722 big event . We , we can't be . Uh , 00:15.722 --> 00:17.969 more thrilled than we are tonight . For 00:17.969 --> 00:20.080 those of you who don't know me , I am 00:20.080 --> 00:22.025 Chris Landau , deputy secretary of 00:22.025 --> 00:24.360 state . Uh , it is an enormous honor 00:24.360 --> 00:26.809 for us here at the State Department to 00:26.809 --> 00:29.290 welcome this distinguished gathering to 00:29.290 --> 00:31.123 our building , to this beautiful 00:31.123 --> 00:33.400 Benjamin Franklin room honoring , uh , 00:33.409 --> 00:35.689 our nation's first diplomat even before 00:35.689 --> 00:37.856 we were a nation , Benjamin Franklin , 00:37.856 --> 00:39.800 who , uh , looks over us from down 00:39.800 --> 00:41.700 there . Uh , and we are thrilled 00:41.700 --> 00:44.459 tonight to have the opportunity to 00:44.459 --> 00:47.700 welcome our friends from the Central 00:47.700 --> 00:50.099 Asian republics , uh , 00:50.970 --> 00:54.880 Kazakhstan , Tajikistan , Turkmenistan , 00:55.130 --> 00:57.560 the Kyrgyz Republic , and Uzbekistan , 00:57.970 --> 01:00.369 great , uh , friends and partners of 01:00.369 --> 01:02.369 the United States . One of the real 01:02.369 --> 01:04.536 joys of working for President Trump in 01:04.536 --> 01:06.849 this administration is that he 01:06.849 --> 01:09.470 recognizes that foreign policy isn't 01:09.470 --> 01:12.089 just about the same relationships that 01:12.089 --> 01:14.637 we have been developing . For the last 01:14.637 --> 01:17.757 80 or 100 years it's a very big world 01:17.757 --> 01:19.868 and there are many important parts of 01:19.868 --> 01:21.646 the world that have not had the 01:21.646 --> 01:24.247 attention that they deserve and one of 01:24.247 --> 01:27.486 those areas are these Central Asian 01:27.486 --> 01:29.887 republics , uh , formerly part of the 01:29.887 --> 01:33.126 Soviet Union , uh , and now , you know , 01:33.476 --> 01:35.806 independent for 35 years , the United 01:35.806 --> 01:37.806 States , you know , I think it is . 01:37.806 --> 01:39.917 High time that we are really engaging 01:39.917 --> 01:41.973 more actively . Uh , so , you know , 01:41.973 --> 01:45.073 President Trump has , uh , asked us to 01:45.073 --> 01:47.184 engage more actively . He invited the 01:47.184 --> 01:49.351 five presidents here , Special envoy , 01:49.351 --> 01:51.462 uh , Gore , uh , who will be speaking 01:51.462 --> 01:53.684 in a moment , and I just came back from 01:53.684 --> 01:55.351 a trip , uh , to the region . 01:55.351 --> 01:57.517 Unfortunately , we didn't hit all 5 of 01:57.517 --> 01:57.194 the countries , but we hit 2 of them 01:57.194 --> 01:59.833 and the opportunities are amazing , uh , 02:00.490 --> 02:02.546 Business opportunities , many , uh , 02:02.546 --> 02:04.768 ways to partner there . So I just think 02:04.768 --> 02:06.861 this is a very exciting time , uh , 02:06.880 --> 02:08.769 between the United States and the 02:08.769 --> 02:10.991 Central Asian republics , and we are so 02:10.991 --> 02:13.047 honored and delighted that these 5 , 02:13.240 --> 02:15.561 countries have sent their presidents 02:15.561 --> 02:17.617 here tonight . The foreign ministers 02:17.617 --> 02:19.728 and representatives are with us , and 02:19.728 --> 02:21.950 we are deeply honored , gentlemen , all 02:21.950 --> 02:24.172 of you are here . Thank you so much for 02:24.172 --> 02:23.641 coming . 02:29.649 --> 02:32.250 It is my uh job tonight not only to 02:32.250 --> 02:34.472 welcome all of you to this building but 02:34.472 --> 02:37.369 also to uh introduce one of our most 02:37.369 --> 02:39.425 distinguished , uh , friends here in 02:39.425 --> 02:41.536 Washington , uh , Senator Jim Risch , 02:41.536 --> 02:43.369 who's the chairman of the Senate 02:43.369 --> 02:45.425 Foreign Relations Committee . Uh , I 02:45.425 --> 02:47.410 can say that with assurance that I 02:47.410 --> 02:49.410 would not be here and as well as my 02:49.410 --> 02:51.466 colleagues if it were not for , uh , 02:51.466 --> 02:53.632 Senator Risch , who as chairman of the 02:53.632 --> 02:55.743 Senate Foreign Relations Committee is 02:55.743 --> 02:57.799 in charge of confirming us and thank 02:57.799 --> 03:00.021 you Senator , for getting that done for 03:00.021 --> 03:03.729 me and for others . President 03:03.729 --> 03:05.951 Trump's foreign policy agenda is really 03:05.951 --> 03:09.009 able to uh flourish because of your 03:09.009 --> 03:11.231 efforts on the hill , so thank you very 03:11.231 --> 03:13.287 much , Senator for everything you've 03:13.287 --> 03:15.509 done . The senator is really one of the 03:15.509 --> 03:15.369 most distinguished sons of the great 03:15.369 --> 03:19.009 state of Idaho . Uh , he has a long 03:19.009 --> 03:21.065 career in public service starting in 03:21.065 --> 03:23.399 the state legislature , uh , then , as , 03:23.490 --> 03:25.546 uh , I think even before that as a . 03:25.546 --> 03:27.975 Prosecuting attorney , uh , state 03:27.975 --> 03:30.365 legislature , uh , governor of the 03:30.365 --> 03:33.485 state of Idaho , and , and now a , 03:33.705 --> 03:35.761 uh , a senator and , and again the , 03:35.764 --> 03:38.005 the , the , the lead senator on foreign 03:38.005 --> 03:40.116 relations , it is such a pleasure for 03:40.116 --> 03:42.338 us here in the State Department to work 03:42.338 --> 03:44.835 every day with Senator Jim Risch . So , 03:45.044 --> 03:47.377 uh , Senator Risch , the floor is yours . 03:47.377 --> 03:48.488 Thank you so much . 03:53.240 --> 03:55.539 Well , uh , thank you , Chris . I 03:55.539 --> 03:57.206 appreciate that very generous 03:57.206 --> 03:59.428 introduction and thank you to Secretary 03:59.428 --> 04:02.850 Rubio for having us here today , uh , 04:02.949 --> 04:04.671 and of course thank you to the 04:04.671 --> 04:06.727 officials from , uh , Central Asia , 04:06.727 --> 04:08.893 all five of you for being here today . 04:08.893 --> 04:11.660 This is , uh , truly a unique occasion , 04:12.190 --> 04:14.389 uh , on behalf of the Senate Foreign 04:14.389 --> 04:16.556 Relations Committee , it's an honor to 04:16.556 --> 04:19.070 join you here for this historic , truly 04:19.070 --> 04:21.559 historic , uh , visit . Uh , the world 04:21.559 --> 04:23.920 leaders gathered here today come from a 04:23.920 --> 04:26.720 difficult neighborhood . We understand . 04:27.549 --> 04:30.429 Uh , you are great nations caught 04:30.429 --> 04:33.519 between powerful countries . Today is 04:33.519 --> 04:35.660 an opportunity to deepen our 04:35.660 --> 04:38.350 cooperation and ensure that these 04:38.350 --> 04:40.790 countries can decide their own 04:40.790 --> 04:43.989 destinies as a volatile Russia and an 04:43.989 --> 04:46.950 increasingly aggressive China pursue 04:46.950 --> 04:49.304 their own national . Interests around 04:49.304 --> 04:51.274 the globe at the cost of their 04:51.274 --> 04:54.475 neighbors , the United States offers 04:54.475 --> 04:57.665 Central Asian nations the real 04:57.665 --> 05:00.114 opportunity to work with a willing 05:00.114 --> 05:02.515 partner while lifting up each other's 05:02.515 --> 05:05.475 economies in support of this effort , I 05:05.475 --> 05:07.697 have joined Senator Danes who's with us 05:07.697 --> 05:09.635 tonight , Senator , uh . 05:14.029 --> 05:15.940 I've joined Senator Danes and my 05:15.940 --> 05:18.051 colleagues in introducing a bill this 05:18.051 --> 05:20.179 week that paves the way to lifting 05:20.179 --> 05:23.170 outdated barriers to increased economic 05:23.170 --> 05:26.579 engagement with our C5+1 partners , and 05:26.579 --> 05:29.660 that is the repeal of the Jackson Vanek 05:29.660 --> 05:30.500 restrictions . 05:37.619 --> 05:39.341 It is fitting that on the 10th 05:39.341 --> 05:41.850 anniversary of the C5+1 diplomatic 05:41.850 --> 05:44.609 platform we are launching a new 05:44.609 --> 05:47.809 exciting era of cooperation between our 05:47.809 --> 05:50.010 nations . I'm proud to work with 05:50.010 --> 05:52.250 President Trump , Senator Danes , my 05:52.250 --> 05:54.250 colleagues on the Foreign Relations 05:54.250 --> 05:56.417 Committee , and our friends in Central 05:56.417 --> 05:59.609 Asia to shape a US foreign policy that 05:59.609 --> 06:03.049 pursues and a secure prosperous future 06:03.049 --> 06:06.549 for America and our partners . And now 06:06.679 --> 06:09.390 I'd like to introduce a longtime friend , 06:09.839 --> 06:12.839 special envoy Sergio Gore . Sergio and 06:12.839 --> 06:15.200 I worked together quite closely during 06:15.200 --> 06:17.250 the first months of the Trump 06:17.250 --> 06:19.472 administration as we filled the post at 06:19.472 --> 06:21.528 state that will help President Trump 06:21.528 --> 06:24.170 and Secretary Rubio execute on their 06:24.170 --> 06:27.480 vision for American foreign policy . 06:28.000 --> 06:30.056 Without the help and commitment from 06:30.056 --> 06:32.170 Sergio , we could not have delivered 06:32.440 --> 06:34.600 the record number of presidential 06:34.600 --> 06:37.600 appointments that we have all , uh , in 06:37.600 --> 06:40.029 the face of a difficult playing field . 06:40.359 --> 06:42.920 We moved nominees to our committee at a 06:42.920 --> 06:45.198 record pace . Thank you , Sergio , for , 06:45.198 --> 06:47.679 uh , what you did . Sergio is now doing 06:47.679 --> 06:49.760 great work as he's undertaking his . 06:49.850 --> 06:52.049 New role as ambassador to India , but 06:52.049 --> 06:55.040 most importantly today for you his role 06:55.040 --> 06:58.200 as special envoy for South and Central 06:58.200 --> 07:00.720 Asian affairs . There's truly no one 07:00.720 --> 07:03.149 better suited to forge a strong and 07:03.149 --> 07:05.000 lasting relationship between our 07:05.000 --> 07:07.440 Central Asian friends and the United 07:07.440 --> 07:09.920 States . Sergio , thank you for all you 07:09.920 --> 07:11.709 do and the floor is yours . 07:16.859 --> 07:18.829 Chair Chairman Risch is absolutely 07:18.829 --> 07:21.051 incredible and in fact today when I got 07:21.051 --> 07:23.162 to the White House , I walked into my 07:23.162 --> 07:25.273 office and the lights weren't even on 07:25.273 --> 07:27.440 but Chairman Risch was sitting there . 07:27.440 --> 07:29.551 And , and we , it was , we had a good 07:29.551 --> 07:31.773 catch up meeting but um he , I , I will 07:31.773 --> 07:33.829 say he's probably one of the hardest 07:33.829 --> 07:36.051 working chairmen chairmans that we that 07:36.051 --> 07:38.218 we have um in the Senate two committee 07:38.218 --> 07:40.440 hearings a week and so that's why we've 07:40.440 --> 07:42.440 been able to confirm so many of our 07:42.440 --> 07:44.551 nominees . um , good evening , it's a 07:44.551 --> 07:46.551 pleasure to be here with all of you 07:46.551 --> 07:48.718 with such a distinguished group . It's 07:48.718 --> 07:50.829 an honor to welcome our distinguished 07:50.829 --> 07:52.718 guests , the foreign ministers of 07:52.718 --> 07:54.885 Kazakhstan , Uzbekistan , Tajikistan . 07:54.885 --> 07:56.773 Turkmenistan and to recognize the 07:56.773 --> 07:58.885 ambassador of the Kyrgyz Republic who 07:58.885 --> 08:01.051 joins us this evening on behalf of his 08:01.051 --> 08:02.996 government . We're also pleased to 08:02.996 --> 08:05.107 welcome members of Congress including 08:05.107 --> 08:06.940 Chairman Risch , Senator Danes . 08:06.940 --> 08:09.369 Representatives Hezya , Self and Miller 08:09.670 --> 08:11.837 and so many other friends and partners 08:11.837 --> 08:13.559 who have long supported strong 08:13.559 --> 08:15.614 engagement between the United States 08:15.614 --> 08:17.989 and countries of Central Asia . Your 08:17.989 --> 08:20.100 presence tonight reflects the growing 08:20.100 --> 08:22.100 breadth of our relationship and our 08:22.100 --> 08:24.869 shared vision for a secure , sovereign , 08:25.140 --> 08:28.109 and prosperous Central Asia . It also 08:28.109 --> 08:30.220 reflects the leadership of the United 08:30.220 --> 08:31.998 States in building economic and 08:31.998 --> 08:34.220 strategic partnerships that advance our 08:34.220 --> 08:36.276 interests , reflect our values , and 08:36.276 --> 08:38.165 create opportunities for American 08:38.165 --> 08:40.190 workers and businesses . When the 08:40.190 --> 08:42.023 president appointed me to be the 08:42.023 --> 08:44.079 special envoy for Central Asia , one 08:44.079 --> 08:46.246 thing that he emphasized to me is that 08:46.246 --> 08:48.357 in previous administrations this area 08:48.357 --> 08:50.523 of the world did not get the attention 08:50.523 --> 08:52.909 that it deserves and his commitment to 08:52.909 --> 08:55.020 this region is that you have a direct 08:55.020 --> 08:57.076 line to the White House and that you 08:57.076 --> 08:59.298 will get the attention . That this area 08:59.298 --> 09:01.576 very much so deserves . Just last week , 09:01.576 --> 09:03.631 Deputy Secretary Lando and I had the 09:03.631 --> 09:05.798 great privilege of visiting Uzbekistan 09:05.798 --> 09:08.090 and Kazakhstan . It was a hugely 09:08.090 --> 09:10.090 successful visit . Um , you'll hear 09:10.090 --> 09:12.201 more about it tomorrow as all 5 heads 09:12.201 --> 09:14.201 of state will be visiting the White 09:14.201 --> 09:16.257 House . Central Asian hospitality is 09:16.257 --> 09:18.679 truly unmatched . Um , Chris and I , I 09:18.679 --> 09:20.735 think we'll be losing weight for the 09:20.735 --> 09:22.790 next few months , the amount of food 09:22.790 --> 09:25.609 that we ate . Um , but from the warm 09:25.609 --> 09:27.776 welcome , delicious meals , incredible 09:27.776 --> 09:29.998 history and culture , my first visit to 09:29.998 --> 09:32.109 the region as the president's special 09:32.109 --> 09:34.331 envoy was one to be remembered . I look 09:34.331 --> 09:36.276 forward to visiting Turkmenistan , 09:36.276 --> 09:38.498 Tajikistan , and the Kyrgyz Republic in 09:38.498 --> 09:40.609 the near future . During our visit we 09:40.609 --> 09:42.720 saw firsthand the remarkable progress 09:42.720 --> 09:44.776 our countries have made in expanding 09:44.776 --> 09:46.887 innovation , education , and business 09:46.887 --> 09:48.969 ties . We met partners eager to work 09:48.969 --> 09:51.191 with American companies that bring high 09:51.191 --> 09:53.080 standards , transparency and real 09:53.080 --> 09:55.302 benefits for their people . We also had 09:55.302 --> 09:57.539 had great discussions around America 09:57.539 --> 10:00.340 once again being open for business and 10:00.340 --> 10:02.340 key investment opportunities in the 10:02.340 --> 10:04.396 United States . The United States is 10:04.396 --> 10:06.284 proud to work with those who seek 10:06.284 --> 10:08.340 genuine partnerships based on mutual 10:08.340 --> 10:10.340 interests . Tomorrow at the Kennedy 10:10.340 --> 10:12.340 Center our business conference will 10:12.340 --> 10:14.451 highlight that cooperation and action 10:14.599 --> 10:16.710 we will see new investments and trade 10:16.710 --> 10:19.559 agreements uh that will create jobs and 10:19.559 --> 10:22.400 export opportunities for American firms . 10:22.719 --> 10:25.590 These are deals that benefit both sides 10:25.880 --> 10:27.658 grounded in fairness and shared 10:27.658 --> 10:29.840 prosperity they demonstrate what is 10:29.840 --> 10:31.840 possible when nations put their own 10:31.840 --> 10:33.840 people first while working together 10:33.840 --> 10:36.809 towards common goals . President Trump 10:36.809 --> 10:39.599 looks very much forward to meeting with 10:39.599 --> 10:41.821 the presidents of each country tomorrow 10:41.821 --> 10:43.932 to reaffirm our unwavering commitment 10:43.932 --> 10:45.932 to peace and prosperity for our six 10:45.932 --> 10:47.877 nations under his leadership , the 10:47.877 --> 10:49.766 United States has pursued a clear 10:49.766 --> 10:51.932 principled foreign policy that defends 10:51.932 --> 10:54.043 our interests , promote peace through 10:54.043 --> 10:56.266 strength , and builds partnerships that 10:56.266 --> 10:58.377 are based on results , not rhetoric . 10:58.377 --> 11:00.929 The C5 +1 platform remains central to 11:00.929 --> 11:03.419 that vision , expanding cooperation on 11:03.419 --> 11:05.530 energy infrastructure and economic 11:05.530 --> 11:07.419 growth that makes America and our 11:07.419 --> 11:09.690 partners safer , stronger , and more 11:09.690 --> 11:12.590 prosperous , prosperous . Um , and now 11:12.590 --> 11:15.590 it's my absolute honor to introduce our 11:15.590 --> 11:17.869 great Secretary of State . When the 11:17.869 --> 11:20.070 president and I were , um , filling in 11:20.070 --> 11:22.237 these positions , there's thousands of 11:22.237 --> 11:25.030 jobs across the government , and I , I 11:25.030 --> 11:27.141 will say there's very few people that 11:27.141 --> 11:30.929 have gotten 345 , even sometimes 6 jobs . 11:30.989 --> 11:33.429 Rarely has a librarian been elevated to 11:33.429 --> 11:37.049 Secretary of State . Um , however , 11:37.320 --> 11:40.099 we have , we have an incredible rock 11:40.099 --> 11:42.950 star in Secretary Rubio . One of the 11:42.950 --> 11:45.219 one of the president's favorite lines 11:45.219 --> 11:47.580 is that he was born for this job and 11:47.580 --> 11:49.580 having traveled with him around the 11:49.580 --> 11:51.636 world from the Vatican to the Middle 11:51.636 --> 11:53.858 East , um , and everywhere in between , 11:53.858 --> 11:56.080 um , I can attest to that . We're lucky 11:56.080 --> 11:58.302 to have him , um , and I , I think he's 11:58.302 --> 12:00.358 delivering for the American people , 12:00.358 --> 12:01.969 for the world , and for this 12:01.969 --> 12:03.858 administration . It's my honor to 12:03.858 --> 12:05.969 welcome my close friend Marco Rubio . 12:09.510 --> 12:11.750 Thank you , thank you very much . Thank 12:11.750 --> 12:13.917 you . Welcome , thank you . Welcome to 12:13.917 --> 12:16.083 the State Department and to our , uh , 12:16.083 --> 12:18.194 we don't get to use these spaces very 12:18.194 --> 12:19.972 much except especially when the 12:19.972 --> 12:22.194 government shut down so they could open 12:22.194 --> 12:21.989 it , but it's , it's great . It's an 12:21.989 --> 12:24.100 honor to host all all of you here and 12:24.100 --> 12:26.322 tomorrow as well we're gonna have great 12:26.322 --> 12:28.489 events and thank you for those kind of 12:28.489 --> 12:30.600 introductions . Sergio is right . The 12:30.600 --> 12:29.950 president does say , and it's a great 12:29.950 --> 12:32.172 honor to hear him say it , he says that 12:32.172 --> 12:34.283 I was born for this job . The problem 12:34.283 --> 12:36.394 is I have 3 jobs . I don't know which 12:36.394 --> 12:38.339 one he's referring to . So I think 12:38.339 --> 12:40.506 maybe he thinks I'm a good archivist , 12:40.506 --> 12:42.617 uh , but in any event , it's an honor 12:42.617 --> 12:44.672 to be able to serve in this position 12:44.672 --> 12:44.150 and it's exciting time . I want to make 12:44.150 --> 12:46.372 a couple of recognitions . First , I do 12:46.372 --> 12:48.261 want to thank Ambassador Gore and 12:48.261 --> 12:50.317 Deputy Secretary Landau for the trip 12:50.317 --> 12:52.483 they took last week . It was important 12:52.483 --> 12:52.260 they spent a substantial amount of time 12:52.260 --> 12:54.371 and I know they look forward to going 12:54.371 --> 12:56.260 back , uh , to the , to the other 12:56.260 --> 12:58.482 countries they were not able to visit . 12:58.482 --> 12:58.260 I personally intend to visit in the 12:58.260 --> 13:01.190 coming year as well . And I , um , all 13:01.190 --> 13:03.301 5 , so I know it'd probably be a week 13:03.301 --> 13:05.468 long or longer trip , so we gotta work 13:05.468 --> 13:07.690 on that and make that happen together . 13:07.690 --> 13:09.746 Um , I wanna give , uh , a shout out 13:09.746 --> 13:11.690 and and a special recognition to a 13:11.690 --> 13:11.469 couple people . Jim Risch , who is 13:11.469 --> 13:13.580 still here was is the chairman of the 13:13.580 --> 13:17.219 Foreign Relations Committee , but . We 13:18.739 --> 13:20.961 Jim and I served together throughout my 13:20.961 --> 13:23.017 14 years and 1 month in the Senate , 13:23.017 --> 13:25.017 and we wound up for reasons I don't 13:25.017 --> 13:26.739 fully understand . We wound up 13:26.739 --> 13:28.795 literally being sitting next to each 13:28.795 --> 13:30.906 other on 3 separate committees so and 13:30.906 --> 13:33.072 and the floor , so people , you know , 13:33.072 --> 13:35.183 they , they , it wasn't by alphabetic 13:35.183 --> 13:37.017 order and , uh , but we wound up 13:37.017 --> 13:39.183 getting very close and remain that way 13:39.183 --> 13:39.059 and I know he's been very helpful in 13:39.059 --> 13:40.892 getting us here to get all these 13:40.892 --> 13:43.059 positions filled and I've seen him and 13:43.059 --> 13:45.115 I haven't seen him I I've seen you 3 13:45.115 --> 13:44.969 times today morning in the White House 13:44.969 --> 13:46.913 and then . Uh , earlier today in a 13:46.913 --> 13:48.858 briefing and now here and one more 13:48.858 --> 13:50.969 person I want to recognize , and this 13:50.969 --> 13:53.025 is someone that's been talking to me 13:53.025 --> 13:52.900 about Central Asia now for almost 4 13:52.900 --> 13:55.011 years or 3 years , and that's Senator 13:55.011 --> 13:57.122 Danes . Are you still here ? How many 13:57.122 --> 13:59.344 times have you been to the region ? And 13:59.344 --> 14:01.511 how often you've been more than once . 14:01.511 --> 14:03.622 I thought he was just trying to score 14:03.622 --> 14:05.844 hunting trips . That's what I thought , 14:05.844 --> 14:08.011 you know , but it ended up he's really 14:08.011 --> 14:07.770 become the leading advocate in the 14:07.770 --> 14:09.548 United States Senate for closer 14:09.548 --> 14:11.381 engagement with all five of your 14:11.381 --> 14:13.548 countries with the entirety of Central 14:13.548 --> 14:15.603 Asia , and I think deserves a lot of 14:15.603 --> 14:15.330 credit for what's going to happen 14:15.330 --> 14:17.441 tomorrow and in the days and weeks to 14:17.441 --> 14:19.608 come . It's an exciting time for us as 14:19.608 --> 14:21.663 well , you know , I think one of the 14:21.663 --> 14:21.510 things that President Trump has made 14:21.510 --> 14:23.566 very clear is that he wants American 14:23.566 --> 14:25.621 foreign policy to be rooted based on 14:25.621 --> 14:27.621 the national interest of the United 14:27.621 --> 14:29.788 States . Ultimately that's how foreign 14:29.788 --> 14:29.510 policy works . You have national 14:29.510 --> 14:31.788 interests , we have national interests . 14:31.788 --> 14:34.010 When does foreign policy work best ? It 14:34.010 --> 14:35.899 works best when the foreign , the 14:35.899 --> 14:38.121 national interests of two countries are 14:38.121 --> 14:40.232 aligned . When your national interest 14:40.232 --> 14:42.510 and our national interests are aligned , 14:42.510 --> 14:42.080 when they're not aligned , that's where 14:42.080 --> 14:43.770 you need diplomacy , you need 14:43.770 --> 14:45.770 friendships and so forth , but when 14:45.770 --> 14:47.881 they're aligned , that's what we have 14:47.881 --> 14:50.103 to pursue those partnerships and create 14:50.103 --> 14:52.159 these ties , these deep ties , and I 14:52.159 --> 14:51.940 think they're aligned in so many ways 14:52.159 --> 14:54.215 and they don't have to be aligned on 14:54.215 --> 14:56.270 every issue , but they're aligned on 14:56.270 --> 14:56.070 important ones including economic 14:56.070 --> 14:58.700 development . From our perspective we 14:58.700 --> 15:00.589 are looking for opportunities for 15:00.589 --> 15:02.422 American innovation and American 15:02.422 --> 15:04.311 business and American products to 15:04.311 --> 15:06.478 expand to more markets and more places 15:06.478 --> 15:08.644 because we think that creates stronger 15:08.644 --> 15:10.478 ties between countries from your 15:10.478 --> 15:12.700 perspective you are looking to take the 15:12.700 --> 15:14.867 resources both your people and natural 15:14.867 --> 15:16.978 resources . That God has blessed your 15:16.978 --> 15:18.756 nations with and turn them into 15:18.756 --> 15:20.922 responsible development that allow you 15:20.922 --> 15:23.144 to diversify your economies . You don't 15:23.144 --> 15:25.367 just want to be a source of energy or a 15:25.367 --> 15:24.840 source of minerals you want to use that 15:24.840 --> 15:27.007 responsibly to build out other sectors 15:27.007 --> 15:29.118 of your of your economies so that you 15:29.118 --> 15:31.118 provide long term opportunities for 15:31.118 --> 15:33.118 your people and further develop our 15:33.118 --> 15:35.173 national interests are aligned and I 15:35.173 --> 15:37.340 think tonight's reception , tomorrow's 15:37.340 --> 15:39.451 meeting . Uh , and some of the things 15:39.451 --> 15:39.080 we're gonna do together in the months 15:39.080 --> 15:41.280 and , and weeks and to come are going 15:41.280 --> 15:43.502 to further strengthen that . So it's an 15:43.502 --> 15:45.613 honor to welcome you all here to , to 15:45.613 --> 15:47.558 the State Department . It'll be an 15:47.558 --> 15:47.239 honor to welcome your presidents . I 15:47.239 --> 15:49.183 know the president's excited about 15:49.183 --> 15:51.239 tomorrow's gathering as well , and I 15:51.239 --> 15:53.461 think it's an exciting opportunity in a 15:53.461 --> 15:55.461 new era in , in our relationship in 15:55.461 --> 15:57.628 Central Asia , which I think it's been 15:57.628 --> 15:59.850 about 10 years since it was a gathering 15:59.850 --> 15:59.570 of this kind . So it's been over a 15:59.570 --> 16:03.460 decade . So , um , Uh , I 16:03.460 --> 16:05.571 would say that unfortunately over the 16:05.571 --> 16:07.793 last decade there's been sort of , uh , 16:07.793 --> 16:10.127 longer , it's been longer than 10 years . 16:10.127 --> 16:12.293 OK . I thought he was saying it was in 16:12.293 --> 16:14.238 20 years ago , my gosh , it's even 16:14.238 --> 16:14.219 worse . No , 10 years , but , but 16:14.219 --> 16:16.386 there's been , you know , a little bit 16:16.386 --> 16:18.441 of neglect , right ? We just haven't 16:18.441 --> 16:18.340 focused on it , so many things going on 16:18.340 --> 16:20.451 in the world . We oftentimes spend so 16:20.451 --> 16:22.229 much time focused on crisis and 16:22.229 --> 16:24.173 problems , and they , they deserve 16:24.173 --> 16:26.396 attention that sometimes we don't spend 16:26.396 --> 16:28.396 enough time focused on exciting new 16:28.396 --> 16:30.562 opportunities , and that's what exists 16:30.562 --> 16:32.840 here now , an exciting new opportunity . 16:32.840 --> 16:34.951 In which the national interest of our 16:34.951 --> 16:34.630 respective countries are aligned , we 16:34.630 --> 16:36.797 can work on bilateral basis , but also 16:36.797 --> 16:38.797 on a regional basis with the United 16:38.797 --> 16:40.908 States , and I'm excited to be a part 16:40.908 --> 16:43.074 of it and to be the Secretary of State 16:43.074 --> 16:45.186 and the National Security advisor and 16:45.186 --> 16:47.408 the archivist at this key moment , uh , 16:47.408 --> 16:49.519 in our , in our nation's history with 16:49.519 --> 16:49.030 each of you . So I intend to do 16:49.030 --> 16:51.086 everything I can from the diplomatic 16:51.086 --> 16:53.252 standpoint . I intend to do everything 16:53.252 --> 16:55.474 I can from my office at the White House 16:55.474 --> 16:55.390 and I intend to make sure we keep 16:55.390 --> 16:57.557 really good records on all of this for 16:57.557 --> 16:59.779 the archives . So thank you , thank you 16:59.779 --> 17:00.619 for being here . Thank you .