In Samarkand, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Washington wants to be “a strong partner” in Central Asia, leading a delegation of almost 300 American businesses, and the State Department announced more than 50 contracts with Uzbekistan worth a combined $12 billion, according to AFP.

The deals cover technology, industrial modernization, transport and energy. Tajikistan and the United States discussed regional security and stability in Central Asia, according to Tajik state media.