TASHKENT. July 7 (Interfax) - The foreign ministers of the countries of Central Asia and Afghanistan discussed the importance of consolidating regional efforts toward a peaceful settlement of the Afghan crisis on Wednesday, the press service for the Uzbek Foreign Ministry said.
According to the Foreign Ministry's information, virtual talks between the foreign ministers of Uzbekistan, Afghanistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Turkmenistan, and Tajikistan took place at the initiative of the United Nations Regional Centre for Preventive Diplomacy.
"The participants at the meeting talked about the importance of consolidating regional efforts toward peacefully settling the Afghan crisis, rebuilding the country's economy, and observing the principle of the leading role of the people of Afghanistan in the development of the political process in the country," the ministry said.
According to the press service, the meeting's participants emphasized the importance of jointly countering the threats of international terrorism and the countries of Central Asia developing effective steps in this direction.
The parties spoke about their support for the further development and expansion of political, economic, and cultural-humanitarian ties between Afghanistan and Central Asia. In this context, the broad involvement of Afghanistan in regional integration processes will promote the speedy establishment in the country of steady and lasting peace.
"The key importance of implementing in the territory of Afghanistan, with assistance from countries of the region, various infrastructure projects in the spheres of energy and transport-communications was stated," the ministry said.
The importance of the international Conference on Central Asia-South Asia Connectivity, scheduled to be held in Tashkent on July 15-16, 2021, was also stated.
The parties also had a substantive exchange of opinions on the priority tracks for providing comprehensive support to Afghanistan, including humanitarian assistance during the pandemic, the ministry said.