DUSHANBE, 14.01.2019. (NIAT Khovar) – The Minister of Foreign Affairs of Tajikistan Sirojiddin Muhriddin took part in the first ministerial meeting of India — Central Asia Dialogue with participation of Afghanistan on January 12-13 in Samarkand.

Uzbekistan’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Abdulaziz Kamilov and his Indian counterpart Sushma Svaraj chaired the meeting of the dialogue, reported the Tajik Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Participants discussed a wide range of issues aimed at expanding friendly and mutually beneficial relations between India and Central Asian countries in bilateral and multilateral formats.

Particular attention was paid to promoting the growth of mutual trade, to the prospects for strengthening cooperation in attracting investment, innovation and technology to the economies of the region, to develop the transit, transportation and communication potential of Central Asian states, to the increase tourism, and to implement the specific joint projects in the fields of science, medicine, education and sports.

The foreign ministers also welcomed the participation of a representative Afghan delegation at their first meeting and stressed their commitment to promoting the economic reconstruction of Afghanistan through joint infrastructure, transit transportation, energy and other projects that promote the country’s integration into the system of regional and global economic ties.

The readiness to cooperate in preparation for the Eighth Regional Economic Cooperation Conference on Afghanistan (RECCA VIII), scheduled to take place in Uzbekistan’s capital in the second half of 2019 was also reaffirmed at the meeting.

The heads of delegations drew attention to the significant potential of joint initiatives in intensifying direct contacts between the business circles of the participating countries in the implementation of cultural events, as well as educational and research projects with Afghanistan.

They also expressed their intention to promote the participation of the Afghan side in international youth forums, festivals, competitions, scientific conferences, exhibitions and other joint events.