TASHKENT. July 18 (Interfax) - U.S. National Security Advisor John Bolton has reiterated the importance of Tashkent's efforts to promote the intra-Afghan dialogue and facilitate Afghanistan's integration with the Central Asian region at a meeting with Uzbek Foreign Minister Abdulaziz Kamilov in Washington.
"During the discussion of issues concerning interaction on the Afghan track, the American side noted Uzbekistan's important role in the launch of the mechanisms of the intra-Afghan peace dialogue and the socioeconomic recovery of Afghanistan, as well as efforts to include it in diverse regional ties within Central Asia," the press service of the Uzbek Foreign Ministry said in a press release on Thursday.
"The sides additionally exchanged opinions on the current state of Uzbek-American relations and their further prospects," the press release said.
Bolton and Kamilov reaffirmed the countries' mutual interest in implementing the agreements reached during Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev's official visit to the U.S. in May 2018 and agreed to continue regular contacts at different levels to determine new avenues for bilateral cooperation, it said.
Bolton, in turn, welcomed the Uzbek delegation's participation in the 2nd Ministerial to Advance Religious Freedom in Washington.
Bolton wrote on Twitter following his meeting with the Uzbek foreign minister, "Excellent meeting today with Uzbekistan's FM Kamilov. We discussed a wide range of common interests and how to best advance our partnership. We applaud Uzbek reforms and their positive impact on all of Central Asia and look forward to deepening U.S.-Uzbek cooperation."
The Uzbek delegation led by Kamilov is on a visit to the U.S. until July 23.