‘President of Peace’: Trump hosts leaders of 5 Central Asian countries at White House

The White House hosted the Central Asia + United States (C5+1) summit, bringing together the presidents of Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, Tajikistan, and Kyrgyzstan for a meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump.

During the talks, Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev and Turkmen President Serdar Berdimuhamedov spoke with Trump in Russian. Mirziyoyev called Trump the “president of peace.”

“In fact, no American president has ever treated Central Asia this way. I personally, and all my colleagues, are very grateful. We truly felt your attention, and it means a lot to us. Thank you very much for that,” Mirziyoyev said in Russian.

The only leader who addressed Trump in English was Kazakhstan’s President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev.

“I am deeply convinced that you are a strong leader and a statesman. Under your leadership, America has entered a new golden age,” Tokayev said, adding that Trump’s policies had “inspired” him to build a strong Kazakhstan founded on the principles of law and order.

According to the Kazakh president’s press service, Trump and Tokayev welcomed the signing of more than $17 billion worth of trade agreements between Kazakhstan and the United States.

Trump also discussed economic issues with the Central Asian leaders. It was noted that the countries are stepping up efforts to explore rare metals needed for high-tech equipment, including smartphones, electric vehicles, and fighter jets, the Associated Press writes.