The current state and prospects of Turkmen-Afghan cooperation in the political, diplomatic, trade, economic and humanitarian spheres were discussed today during an online meeting between foreign Minister of Turkmenistan Rashid Meredov and foreign Minister of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan Mohammad Hanif Atmar. The talks, held in videoconference format, were a continuation of a telephone conversation between leaders of the two countries – Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov and Ashraf Ghani, held yesterday, the Ministry of foreign Affairs of Turkmenistan.

During the talks, the foreign Ministers expressed their interest in strengthening mutually beneficial bilateral cooperation in the transit, transport and energy spheres, which meets the interests of the peoples of the two countries, as well as the entire region.

Recall that during a telephone conversation between the two heads of state, President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov supported the proposal of his Afghan counterpart to hold a video-conference trilateral meeting between the leaders of Turkmenistan, Afghanistan and Azerbaijan, the agenda of which will include issues of improving the efficiency of the lapis Lazuli transport corridor. According to the diplomats, this route, due to the favorable geopolitical position of Turkmenistan and Afghanistan, is of great importance for building a productive international partnership in order to increase the economic integration of the region and increase the volume of trade.

The agreement on the Lapis lazuli corridor, which carries cargo from Afghanistan through Turkmenistan, Azerbaijan and Georgia to Turkey, was signed in October 2017 within the framework of the 7th regional economic cooperation conference on Afghanistan (RECCA), held in Ashgabat. The opening of the Lapis lazuli corridor took place on December 13, 2018 in the West of Afghanistan in the province of Herat, when the first test was launched – 9 heavy-duty vehicles.

Exchanging views on regional and international issues, the foreign Ministers of the two countries noted the need to develop a coordinated approach to solving current problems, especially the new type of coronavirus pandemic. In particular, the diplomats noted the need for coordinated sanitary and quarantine measures on the border between the two States to ensure uninterrupted cargo flows.

In this context, R. Meredov affirmed during a telephone conversation of heads of States, the willingness of Turkmenistan in humanitarian aid to construct border railway stations, checkpoints and some other places in Afghanistan special facilities-terminals – similar to build in our country for the disinfection of railway transport and cargo and to provide these facilities with necessary equipment.