Kabul, Ashgabat agree to expand regional connectivity, trade

KABUL (Pajhwok): Afghanistan and Turkmenistan have signed two Memorandum of Understandings (MoUs) to enhance foreign ministerial level interactions and cooperation in railway sector, a statement from the Ministry of Foreign Affair (MoFA) said on Sunday.

Atmar welcomed his Turkmen counterpart Raşit Meredow and his accompanying delegation to Kabul, describing Turkmenistan as a friendly neighbor and brotherly country.

Calling Kabul-Ashgabat ties as excellent and friendly, Atmar said that Mr. Merdow’s visit and the new agreements signed between the two sides were steps towards further strengthening bilateral relations.

The Minister of Foreign Affairs stated that expanding regional connectivity, strengthening trade, transit, political and economic cooperation, and building regional consensus on the Afghan peace process were top priorities of Afghanistan’s foreign policy.

He noted that the expansion of ties among regional countries, especially with Turkmenistan, benefited peace and development in the region.

Pleased with brotherly relations between Kabul and Ashgabat, The Minister of Foreign Affairs of Turkmenistan thanked Mr. Atmar for the warm and cordial hospitality of Afghanistan during his visit to Kabul.

Mr. Meredow stated that Ashgabat was committed to cooperating with Afghanistan in trade, transit, commerce, and regional connectivity and considered the success of the Afghan peace talks vital for achieving those goals.

The Turkmen Foreign Minister assured Mr. Atmar of his country’s firm support for the success of the peace process and the stance of the Government of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan on regional peace and consensus.

The two foreign ministers spoke in detail about the necessary preparations to open three projects to be inaugurated by the two countries’ leaders in the near future.

The meeting was attended by the President’s Chief of Staff Mohammad Shakir Kargar, Deputy Foreign Minister Mirwais Nab, Director of Afghanistan Railway Authority Yamma Shams, Deputy Minister of Agriculture Heshmatollah Ghafouri, and Head of Afghanistan Petroleum Authority Seyed Mahbubollah Rabbani.

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