Mirziyoyev conferred with the Prime Minister of Qatar regarding the Trans-Afgan railway initiative

Today, on April 15, President Shavkat Mirziyoyev of Uzbekistan hosted a delegation led by Qatar's Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Sheikh Muhammad bin Abdurrohman Al Sani. This update came from the President's press office.

The Qatar delegation is in Tashkent for the upcoming meeting of the foreign ministers from the nations comprising the "Cooperation Council of the Arab States of Central Asia."

Prime Minister Muhammad Al Sani extended warm regards from Qatar's Emir Tamim bin Hamad Al Sani to Uzbekistan's leader.

Discussions primarily revolved around furthering bilateral cooperation, particularly in trade, investment, and transportation sectors.

The president expressed contentment over the increasing momentum in political dialogue, as well as the uptick in mutual trade and investments. Notably, significant investment ventures involving prominent Qatar firms are underway, alongside cultural and humanitarian exchanges, including an upcoming Qatar Culture Week in Uzbekistan this October.

Emphasis was placed on expediting joint investment initiatives and establishing efficient financial mechanisms to support them promptly. The conversation also delved into expediting the construction of the Trans-Afgan railway.

Regional matters, such as the heightened tensions in the Middle East, were also exchanged.

In February 2021, Uzbekistan, Afghanistan, and Pakistan inked a roadmap for the Termiz-Mozori Sharif-Qobul-Peshovar railway, estimated at around $5 billion, with a transport capacity of 20 million tons connecting various regions. Design efforts are ongoing. On July 21, 2022, President Qosim-Jomart Toqayev of Kazakhstan expressed readiness to join the Trans-Afghan railway project, linking Central and South Asia, during a consultative summit of Central Asian leaders in Kyrgyzstan's Cholpon-Ota.

It's worth noting that on February 19, a delegation from the interim Taliban government in Afghanistan, led by Mullah Bakht ul Rahmon Sharofat, head of the national railway department, visited Tashkent to participate in discussions on the Trans-Afgan project and enhance bilateral cooperation.