TASHKENT. May 18 (Interfax) - Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev and United States Secretary of Defense James Mattis discussed military-technical cooperation and ways to restore stability and security in Afghanistan at a meeting in Washington, Uzbek media reported on Friday.
"During their meeting, President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev and U.S. Secretary of Defense James Mattis discussed steps to strengthen interaction in defense and security, issues concerning military and military-technical cooperation, and their commitment to stability in Afghanistan," one report said.
The Uzbek president reiterated his country's interest in promoting military-technical cooperation with the U.S., it said.
"Uzbekistan is interested in exchanging experience, military and military-technical cooperation, and interaction in the defense and security spheres with the U.S.," Mirziyoyev was quoted as saying.
Mattis, for his part, said that Uzbekistan plays a major geostrategic role in its region.
The five-year military cooperation plan adopted during the Uzbek leader's official visit to the U.S. will help promote peace and security in the region, he said.
Mattis praised the Uzbek president's efforts to develop cooperation and enhance security in the region.
According to the media, during his visit to the U.S., Mirziyoyev also met with Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and members of the U.S. Congress and Senate.
Mirziyoyev paid his first official visit to the U.S. on May 15-17.