Uzbekistan’s Foreign Minister together with Ministers of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Kazakhstan Beibut Atamkulov, the Kyrgyz Republic Chingiz Aidarbekov, the Republic of Tajikistan Sirojiddin Muhriddin, Turkmenistan Rashid Meredov and the United States Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs David Hale exchanged views on the state and prospects of development of multilateral cooperation in various fields, including supporting economic partnership, solving regional security problems, promoting peace and prosperity in Central Asia and the neighboring Afghanistan.

In the speech of the Head of Uzbekistan delegation, it was noted that the “C5+1” format, launched in November 2015 during the first meeting of the heads of foreign affairs agencies of Central Asian countries and the United States in Samarkand, has established itself as a reliable and effective consultative mechanism.

Thanks to joint efforts, a completely new atmosphere of trust in the region has been created, a breakthrough has been achieved in resolving many issues that in the past created obstacles to mutual rapprochement. Trade, investment, transport, communication, cultural and humanitarian ties, cross-border and interregional cooperation, and others are further developing.

On the same day, heads of delegations attending the “C5+1” meeting were received by the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev.