Uzbekistan says it will continue constructive policy toward Afghanistan

Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev has said his country will continue its constructive policy toward Afghanistan on a sustained basis.

He made the remarks at a ceremony marking the 35th anniversary of the independence of the Republic of Uzbekistan, saying Tashkent relies on a multilateral, balanced and measured approach in its foreign policy.

In part of his speech, Mirziyoyev referred to Afghanistan and stressed that Uzbekistan would maintain the same constructive approach toward its neighbour.

In recent years, the Uzbek president has repeatedly stressed expanding economic and trade ties with Afghanistan and supporting regional stability and connectivity. Uzbekistan is one of Afghanistan’s northern neighbours, and in recent years Tashkent has sought to play a more active role in regional economic and diplomatic links.