The head of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Uzbekistan, Bakhtiyor Saidov, visited Afghanistan for the first time since his appointment as a minister and held talks with several high-ranking officials of the Taliban movement. The parties discussed a wide range of issues of cooperation, including the activation of economic relations.

Foreign Minister Bakhtiyor Saidov visited Kabul on March 12-13 and discussed wide-scale issues of bilateral cooperation, including the activation of economic relations, with high-ranking representatives of the interim government of Afghanistan. This was reported on the minister's Telegram channel.

During the first visit of Bakhtiyor Saidov to Afghanistan as the head of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, he was accompanied by representatives of the government of Uzbekistan and the private sector.

The minister was a number of officials of the interim government of Afghanistan - Prime Minister Mullah Muhammad Hasan Akhund, Deputy Prime Minister Mullah Abdul Salam Hanafi, Deputy Prime Minister for Economic Affairs Mullah Abdul Ghani Barodar, Minister of Foreign Affairs Mullah Amir Khan Muttaqi, Minister of Internal Affairs. Vice President Khalifa Sirajiddin Haqqani held meetings with the Minister of Trade and Industry, Vice President Nuriddin Azizi.

"During the negotiations, we discussed a wide range of issues of mutual cooperation. "We paid special attention to creating the most favorable conditions for strengthening economic relations and improving relations between business circles," the report said.

"We are united by our rich and common history, common traditions and future. There are many opportunities that we can implement together," said Bakhtiyor Saidov.

According to the press service of Mulla Abdul Ghani Barodar, he emphasized the desire of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan to conduct an economically oriented foreign policy and paid special attention to regional relations. He emphasized the need for regional cooperation, especially cooperation with Uzbekistan, to achieve this goal.

Mulla Barodar emphasized the need to increase the level of transit transportation through Afghanistan and Uzbekistan, develop trade relations, expand the railway network, invest in Afghanistan, solve transport and customs problems, and support Afghans living in Uzbekistan.

He also noted the joint efforts to create opportunities for young people to get higher education.

Mulla Abdul Ghani Baradar Akhund, while discussing the issues of water management and agricultural development, spoke about the Qoshtepa canal in the north of Afghanistan.

"This is a long-standing dream of the Afghan people, which is hindered by long-standing conflicts and instability. "He is a supporter of the fair use of the river, as in other countries of the Amudarya basin, the development of the canal began with the restoration of the Islamic Emirate, and the rights of Afghans were ensured without worrying the neighboring countries," the report said.

It is noted that the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Uzbekistan, Bakhtiyor Saidov, confirmed that the country is in favor of strengthening political and economic relations with Afghanistan. He offered to provide technical assistance to Uzbekistan on the project of construction of canal and modern irrigation systems.

The press service of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Afghanistan also stated that the ministers also touched on trade and transit issues during the negotiations, including simplification of issuing visas to businessmen and transport workers in order to expand economic cooperation.

Maulavi Amir Khan Muttaqi raised the issue of the shortage of electricity imported from Uzbekistan and noted that it affects both ordinary people and economic sectors in winter.

Bakhtiyor Saidov said that Uzbekistan has always supported Afghanistan and called on it to be seen as a part of Central Asia and the international community.

He also noted that Afghanistan is interested in investing in the fields of cement production, coal mining and coal-based electricity generation.