These days, the delegation led by Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar, the Acting Deputy Prime Minister of Afghanistan, is present in our country visiting.
Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar initially met with our government's deputy head, Jamshid Khojaev, to discuss strengthening trade and transit relations and establishing joint trade zones.
The high-ranking official reiterated the religious, historical, cultural, and ethnic commonalities binding Afghanistan and Uzbekistan, acknowledging their profound positive impact on the political and economic relations between the two countries. He also talked about the Trans-Afghan project, the creation of a 500-kilowatt electricity transmission system. He proposed the use of national currencies in mutual trade, implementing agreements on hydrocarbon and mineral resources, and exploring opportunities for Uzbek businessmen to invest in various sectors in Afghanistan. He assured full support in creating necessary conveniences for investors.
In turn, J.Khojaev indicated Uzbek entrepreneurs' readiness to invest in the industrial development of this fraternal nation, for instance, by constructing a cement factory in Samangan province and engaging in oil and gas exploration and extraction. It was reported that significant progress has already been made in exploring the "Toti Maidon" gas field, with excavation works expected to commence soon.
According to Afghan economic analyst Ahmad Firdaws Behgozin, rebuilding strong connections with neighbors and other countries significantly enhances the country's economic potential.
On the same day, Uzbekistan’s Prime Minister Abdullah Aripov conducted bilateral negotiations with Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar, the Acting Deputy Prime Minister of Afghanistan.
According to the press service of the Council of Ministers, the discussions emphasized the relationship between our countries and peoples being based on the principles of friendship, cooperation, and good neighborliness, noting President Shavkat Mirziyoyev's special attention to developing constructive and mutually beneficial relations with Afghanistan in all areas. A comprehensive exchange of views was held on further expanding partnership and consistently developing trade, economy, energy, transport, and other sectors.
The negotiations, extensive exchange of views confirmed once again that it is an essential condition for the peaceful and stable development of the neighboring country, primarily for its integration with the regional states and the global community.
