DUSHANBE, 10.12.2019 (NIAT Khovar) – The 8th Ministerial Conference “Heart of Asia/Istanbul Process”held under the motto “Peace, Partnership, Prosperity” in Istanbul was attended by the Tajik delegation led by the Minister of Foreign Affairs Sirojiddin Muhriddin along with the international organizations and supporting countries, reported the Tajik Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

President of Afghanistan Ashraf Ghani and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan opened the conference.

While emphasizing the constructive position of Tajikistan in providing peace, stability and prosperity in the neighboring country, Muhriddin called on the participating countries, supporting states, international and regional organizations to be more involved in the positive processes in Afghanistan.

The Istanbul Declaration was adopted following the conference. According to the declaration, the co-chairmanship of the “Heart of Asia/Istanbul Process” in 2020 will pass to Tajikistan. The initiative of Tajikistan was unanimously supported by the participants of the conference.

On the sidelines of the conference Muhriddin met with Deputy Assistant Secretary of the US State Department for South and Central Asia Alice Wells. The meeting focused on the issues relating to the relationship and cooperation between the two states.