Rubio seeks to strengthen US foothold in C Asia

SAMARKAND, Oct 19: US Secretary of State Marco Rubio pushed for greater access for American companies during talks Monday with Central Asian states before heading to India on a tour that mixes diplomacy and commerce.

At the head of a delegation that includes numerous business executives, Rubio visited Samarkand's old city, a historic staging post between China and the West, before holding a series of bilateral talks with regional leaders. 

"The United States wants to be a strong partner in Central Asia, obviously rooted in this country, but also all the neighboring countries who want to do more business and trade with us," he told journalists. 

"We have an incredible delegation, almost 300 American businesses that are here with us, and the opportunity to sign billions of dollars of agreements that will both enrich the countries in the region, but also benefit the United States economically," he said.�" AFP