President Shavkat Mirziyoyev today hosted U.S. Special Representative for Afghanistan Reconciliation Zalmay Khalilzad and Deputy Assistant to the U.S. President, Senior Director for South and Central Asia at the National Security Council Lisa Curtis, the presidential press service said.
Shavkat Mirziyoyev, warmly welcoming the guests, noted with satisfaction the upward trend and consistent strengthening of the multifaceted cooperation between the two countries, and underscored that the agreements reached at the bilateral summit meetings in May this year marked the beginning of a new era of strategic partnership.
Contacts at various levels have intensified, a productive political dialogue and inter-parliamentary relations have been established, joint projects are being implemented in the trade, economic and investment fields, cultural and humanitarian exchanges are gaining momentum.
The parties discussed the ways to further expand the Uzbek-US comprehensive ties, as well as the international and regional issues, focusing on the peaceful settlement of the situation in Afghanistan, pointing to the implementation of major infrastructure projects as an important contribution to this process.
Among them are the construction of the Mazar-i-Sharif-Herat railway line and the Sorkhan-Poli Khomri transmission line.
Termez-Cargo-Center international logistics center with customs terminal has been established, which intended to help increase the volume of trade and transit volume between Uzbekistan and Afghanistan.
The sides pointed to the need for closer coordination of the efforts of the entire international community in launching a peace negotiation process with the main and decisive role of the Afghans themselves, and providing practical assistance in promoting economic projects in Afghanistan.
Zalmay Khalilzad and Lisa Curtis, expressing gratitude to Shavkat Mirziyoyev for the warm welcome, conveyed sincere greetings on behalf of the President of the United States of America Donald Trump, and commended the reforms being undertaken in Uzbekistan in all areas, as well as Uzbekistan’s new foreign policy course with neighboring states, including Afghanistan.
In conclusion, the parties expressed their readiness to further strengthen the Uzbek-US strategic partnership ties and expand cooperation in resolving the situation in Afghanistan in order to ensure peace, stability and sustainable development in the whole region.
