Mirziyoyev proposes high-level group on Afghanistan at regional summit

President of the Republic of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev has proposed the establishment of a high-level group to address issues related to Afghanistan within the framework of the “Central Asia–China” format. He made the proposal on June 17 during the second “Central Asia–China” summit held in Astana.

“The decline in the international community’s attention to the problems of Afghanistan, which is not only a neighbor to us but also an integral part of our shared historical, cultural, and economic space, is of serious concern,” President Mirziyoyev stated.

He emphasized that China and the Central Asian countries, as traditional partners of Afghanistan with a rich history of cooperation, possess the necessary experience and capacity to contribute to Afghanistan’s reconstruction and its integration into regional processes.

“In this regard, I propose the establishment of a high-level group to consider these matters within our framework and to hold its inaugural meeting in the border city of Termez with the participation of Afghan representatives,” the Uzbek leader said.

It is worth noting that on June 11, President Mirziyoyev received Nuriddin Azizi, the acting Minister of Industry and Trade of the Taliban interim government, during the Tashkent International Investment Forum. Discussions focused on further expanding cooperation in trade, transport and logistics, energy, agriculture, geology, and mineral exploration.