Ashgabat.  July 15.  INTERFAX – Talks in the framework of the C5 + 1 format were held in Tashkent today between the heads of the foreign ministries of Central Asia and the US delegation led by the US President’s Internal Security Advisor Elizabeth Sherwood-Randall, the website of the Foreign Ministry of Turkmenistan reports.

 The US Special Representative for Afghanistan Reconciliation Zalmay Khalilzad also took part in the talks.

 During the meeting, the parties discussed key vectors of cooperation between the countries of Central Asia and the United States in the political, diplomatic, trade, economic, cultural and humanitarian fields.

 Among the priority areas of interaction were noted the fight against climate change and environmental problems, the development of the transport and transit potential of the region.

 During the meeting, an exchange of views took place on strengthening the relationship between South and Central Asia in consonance with the themes of the high-level international conference held in Tashkent.

 The parties expressed interest in continuing the diplomatic dialogue aimed at strengthening cooperation in countering threats and challenges to regional security.

 Afghan issues were discussed at the meeting.  In this regard, the participants in the meeting expressed their commitment to creating stable and prosperous conditions conducive to a peaceful settlement of the situation in Afghanistan.

 Following the talks, the participants adopted a Joint Statement.