In increasing the cooperation with Afghanistan, implementation of international infrastructure projects with the participation of Afghanistan is of particular importance.  This was stated by the head of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Turkmenistan Rashid Meredov, speaking at the third ministerial conference of the neighboring countries of Afghanistan, held the day before in the city of Tunxi, China, the website of the Turkmen Foreign Ministry reports.

 In his speech, R. Meredov emphasized that this meeting is considered by Turkmenistan as an opportunity to develop a consolidated approach to ensuring peace and security in Afghanistan, and further comprehensive development of this country.

 R. Meredov also expressed confidence that the mechanism of interaction between the six countries – direct neighbors of Afghanistan in the future will give impetus to the intensification of multilateral efforts towards Afghanistan,

 In this context, the need for a comprehensive intensification of political, economic and humanitarian cooperation with Afghanistan was emphasized.

 It was also noted that the implementation of international infrastructure projects with the participation of Afghanistan – in energy, transport, and communications – is of particular importance.  These are projects for the construction of the Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan-India gas pipeline, the laying of power transmission lines and fiber-optic communication from Turkmenistan to Afghanistan and Pakistan and the construction of new railways from Turkmenistan to Afghanistan, the Turkmen Foreign Minister emphasized.

 At the end of the meeting, the heads of delegations adopted the final documents.  In particular, the Joint Statement of the Third Meeting of Foreign Ministers of Afghanistan's Neighboring Countries and the Tunxi Initiative of Afghanistan's Neighboring Countries to Support Afghanistan's Economic Recovery and Practical Cooperation were adopted.