Saida Mirziyoyeva and Marco Rubio visit Registan Square in Samarkand

Upon his arrival in the historic city of Samarkand, Uzbekistan, the U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, his spouse Jeanette Rubio, and Saida Mirziyoyeva, Head of the Administration of the President of Uzbekistan, visited Registan Square.

Registan Square, a splendor of the Timurid era, remains one of the most celebrated architectural ensembles not only in Uzbekistan but throughout Central Asia. Samarkand historically served as a major crossroads of trade, linking East and West along the Silk Road.

Speaking to the press in Uzbekistan, Secretary Rubio said the United States aims to be a strong partner for the Central Asian country, to “ensure that in every part of the world that is opening its doors to American business and American commerce that we’re available, that we’re showing up, and that we’re there. And that’s what this is all about.”