On March 26, 2020, the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev held a telephone conversation with the President of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan Mohammad Ashraf Ghani.

The leaders exchanged warm congratulations and best wishes on the occasion of the spring holiday Navruz.

It was emphasized that this bright holiday of prosperity and renewal of nature traditionally symbolizes the common cultural and spiritual heritage, the aspirations of friendly peoples of the two countries for peace and prosperity.

The President of Uzbekistan also congratulated Ashraf Ghani on his election as President of Afghanistan and sincerely wished great success in advancing the priority tasks of ensuring stability and sustainable development of the country.

In turn, Ashraf Ghani expressed deep gratitude to the leader of Uzbekistan for congratulations, as well as the support and active efforts to achieve peace and socio-economic reconstruction of Afghanistan.

He emphasized that Tashkent International Conference on Afghanistan, held two years ago at the initiative of the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan, was a key event, the starting point in the process of launching the political process for peaceful settlement of the Afghan problem, the search for mutually acceptable forms and mechanisms of dialogue between interested parties.

During the conversation, the current situation and measures taken in connection with the spread of coronavirus infection in the region were discussed.

President Ashraf Ghani expressed special gratitude for practical assistance of Uzbekistan in countering coronavirus. It was noted that Hairatan – Mazar-e-Sharif railway built and operated by Uzbekistan specialists, the supply of electricity, food and industrial products, as well as unhindered transit of trade and humanitarian goods through the country and other assistance provided are important factors in the fight against the pandemic.

Heads of states emphasized the importance of further close coordination of actions and taking decisive steps to monitor the sanitary-epidemiological situation in the two countries.

Presidents also considered pressing issues of bilateral cooperation, primarily in trade-economic, energy and transport-communication spheres, as well as exchanged views on the international agenda.

An agreement was reached on intensifying efforts to prepare and implement joint infrastructure projects designed to ensure the sustainable development of Afghanistan and increase the welfare of the country’s people.