The 3rd Ministerial Conference of Afghanistan's Neighboring Countries was held in Huangshan (China) on March 30 and 31 this year, which was attended by members of the governments and foreign ministers of Uzbekistan, China, Iran, Russia, Pakistan, Tajikistan and Turkmenistan. Uzbekistan was represented by Deputy PM/Minister of Investment and Foreign Trade Sardor Umrzakov.

In his remarks, Sardor Umrzakov stressed the need to enhance coordination of regional cooperation aimed at overcoming the existing problems in Afghanistan, reviving the national economy, solving social problems and helping to normalize the life of the country and proposed to develop a mechanism and criteria for the international recognition of the Afghan caretaker government. These measures will speed up the country's integration into the regional space and the international community.

He also expressed Uzbekistan’s commitment to continue cooperation with the countries of the region, partner countries and Afghanistan in all priority areas, including the implementation of major infrastructure projects aimed at accelerating economic recovery and improving the living standards of the Afghan people.

At the end of the meeting, the parties adopted a joint statement of the parties and the Tunxi Initiative to support the economic reconstruction of Afghanistan.

Within the framework of the event, Sardor Umrzakov also held a number of bilateral meetings and talks with Chinese State Councilor, Foreign Minister Wang Yi, Iranian Foreign Minister Hussein Amir Abdullahian, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, and Acting Afghan Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi.

During the meetings, the parties discussed the current state of ongoing efforts and identified the next steps to deepen bilateral cooperation in priority areas.