Journalists from several countries and experienced media experts are also participating in the traditional Saint Petersburg International Economic Forum in Russia.

As part of the event on June 5, President of the Russian Federation Vladimir Putin met with the heads of the world’s leading news agencies. The Director General of Uzbekistan National News Agency Abdusaid Kuchimov also attended the open meeting in a question-and-answer format.

The meeting was attended by the heads of the world’s leading news agencies, including the Russian TASS, the American Associated Press, the British Reuters, the German Deutsche Presse-Agentur – DPA, the Chinese Xinhua, and the French France-Presse, as well as representatives of Japanese, Iranian, Spanish, Italian, Turkish, Korean, Belarusian, Kazakh, and Azerbaijani media.

As expected, a constructive dialogue and discussion took place regarding important international events and domestic and foreign policy. In particular, the most widespread attention was paid to the Russian-Ukrainian conflict. Most participants were interested in opinions related to this issue.

Vladimir Putin also answered questions regarding the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, the upcoming presidential elections in the United States, Russia’s special relations with the European Union, Central Asia, the Korean Peninsula, Belarus, Iran, North Korea, and Japan.

The Director General of Uzbekistan National News Agency Abdusaid Kuchimov drew the attention of the Russian President and his colleagues to the Afghan problem, which, against the backdrop of observed conflicts between individual countries and regions, remains outside the general attention.

– Vladimir Vladimirovich, during recent negotiations with President Shavkat Mirziyoyev in Tashkent, you exchanged views on current international issues. Peace and stability on neighboring Afghan soil is essential for Uzbekistan. Unfortunately, according to our observations, the events in Ukraine have entirely displaced the no less pressing Afghan issue from the global agenda. There is an objective need to establish cooperation with the new authorities of Afghanistan to help the hardworking Afghan people solve socio-economic problems. Moreover, there is a strong desire of the new government of Afghanistan, that is, the Taliban, to establish peace in the country and constructive cooperation with all states. This is what my question is related to. How important is it for the Russian Federation to maintain dialogue with Afghanistan? Does Afghanistan currently occupy an important place in Russian politics? And what is your attitude to the processes around this country?

– First, I want to confirm that the visit to Uzbekistan was comprehensive, fruitful, and effective. This format, perhaps, has not yet worked out for us with anyone, namely, on the initiative of President Mirziyoyev, we not only came to Uzbekistan with a large government delegation, but at the same time held a meeting of regional leaders, – Vladimir Putin noted. – Some heads of Russian regions were happy to communicate with the leadership of the renewed government of the Russian Federation in Tashkent. It was interesting, and they interacted very actively with each other. This turned out to be very useful, even unexpectedly, for me.

Second, we also discussed the problem of Ukraine. President Mirziyoyev, of course, actively advocates for a peaceful resolution of the Ukrainian crisis and has repeatedly spoken about Uzbekistan’s concerns about what is happening in Ukraine. We are grateful to the President that Uzbekistan’s policy here is neutral and balanced.

We talked a lot about Afghanistan. Uzbekistan’s problem is access to the world’s oceans and seas. This is all clear. There are different options here, including those related to the development of logistics through Afghanistan’s territory. These are pipeline and rail transport, road transport, the supply of energy resources, electricity, and so on.

In this regard, stability in Afghanistan is essential for both Uzbekistan and us. And we must proceed from reality: the Taliban control power in Afghanistan. Of course, we need to ensure that all agreements at the UN level are implemented, including that the government be inclusive with the participation of all ethnic groups in Afghanistan. This is a subtle, essential question. But we need to build relations with the Taliban government.

In general, we have contacts. I know that Afghanistan is also developing this. We will move on. We need to improve relations with the neighboring country, especially since Uzbekistan has a long border with it. We need to ensure security and, I repeat, develop logistics. We agreed to work on this together and study these possibilities, – the Russian Leader emphasized.

The Saint Petersburg International Economic Forum continues.

UzA