KABUL (Pajhwok): Uzbekistan and Japan have discussed joint development initiatives in Afghanistan, focusing on projects aimed at supporting the country’s social and economic development, Uzbekistan’s Foreign Ministry said.
According to the ministry, Ismatulla Irgashev, Uzbekistan’s special representative for Afghanistan, met with Tetsuya Yamada, head of the South Asia Department at the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA).
During the meeting, the two sides exchanged views on implementing joint projects in Afghanistan and explored ways to expand cooperation in humanitarian and development sectors.
The statement said the Japanese side welcomed Uzbekistan’s pragmatic approach toward Afghanistan and praised the infrastructure established in the Uzbek border city of Termez.
Japanese officials also expressed interest in using existing facilities in Termez to implement social projects in areas including education, healthcare, agriculture, private sector development and counter-narcotics efforts.
According to Uzbekistan’s Foreign Ministry, the initiatives are aimed at improving the living conditions of the Afghan people.
sa