Tashkent, Uzbekistan — Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Investments and Foreign Trade of the Republic of Uzbekistan Sardor Umurzakov today met with the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, Muhammad Hanif Atmar, who is visiting Uzbekistan.

The Afghan delegation was also attended by the heads of the Ministry of Transport, the Ministry of Industry and Trade, the Central Bank and the Administration of the President of Afghanistan, the Ministry of Investment and Foreign Trade reported, Dunyo news agency reported.

During the meeting, topical issues of trade, economic, investment and transport and logistics cooperation between the two countries were discussed, as well as the prospects for the implementation of joint projects in the fields of energy, construction of railways, trade and infrastructure development in Afghanistan

The issues of accelerating the construction of the “Surkhan-Puli-Khumri” power transmission line and working out the corresponding draft agreement, as well as conducting expert negotiations on the preparation for signing the draft Agreement on international road traffic were considered.

Special attention was paid to the issues of strengthening cooperation in the development of transport corridors through the implementation of joint projects in the field of railway transport.

An agreement was reached on the adoption of additional measures to create conditions for increasing trade, including the development of infrastructure for expanding border trade and organizing the supply of agricultural and industrial products that are in demand in the markets of the two countries.

During the meeting, the parties also agreed to establish a mechanism of permanent contacts in order to ensure high-quality and timely implementation of bilateral agreements and prompt resolution of all emerging issues.

Confidence was expressed that the deepening of economic cooperation between Uzbekistan and Afghanistan will contribute to ensuring stability and sustainable development in the Central Asian region.

At the end of the meeting, National Electricity JSC and the Afghan company Da Afghanistan Breshna Sherkat (DABS) signed an agreement on the supply of electricity for a period of 10 years.