NUR-SULTAN – Foreign Ministers of Kazakhstan Mukhtar Tileuberdi, Kyrgyzstan Chingiz Aidarbekov, Tajikistan Sirojiddin Mukhriddin, Turkmenistan Rashid Meredov, Uzbekistan Abdulaziz Kamilov, the US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and the United States Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs David Hale discussed plans to expand trade and economic ties in a June 30th regular C5 + 1 high level meeting over a video conference, according to the Kazakh Ministry of Foreign Affairs press service.
Kazakh Foreign Ministers Mukhtar Tileuberdi (C) and his delegation during the June 30 C5+1 videoconference. Photo credit: mfa.kz.
The parties discussed their efforts in tackling challenges associated with the pandemic, as well as their efforts to support peace and stability in Afghanistan. All participants expressed their intention to intensify cooperation to jointly resolve regional issues.
The countries have been gathering to discuss the regional integration in C5 + 1 meetings since 2015. Over the past five years, the meetings have become an effective mechanism of multilateral interaction to enhance economic cooperation despite all manner of global shocks, stressed Tileuberdi.
It has also served as a forum to attract technologies and expert assistance in developing transit and transport potential while working to preserve the environment and strengthening regional security, he added.
Tileuberdi stressed the importance of continuing the regional dialogue as part of the C5 + 1 meetings and attracting US investment and technology to Central Asia through the Astana International Financial Center (AIFC).
