President of Uzbekistan, Shavkat Mirziyoyev, delivered a speech at the inaugural summit of Central Asia – Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Strategic Dialogue in Jeddah on Thursday, where he called on world leaders to support efforts to help the people of Afghanistan.
During his address, President Mirziyoyev urged active participation in the strategic project of the Trans-Afghan Railway, emphasizing its potential to connect Gulf countries with the region through the shortest and most convenient route. He underscored the significant benefits of this railway, including halving transport costs and reducing cargo delivery times.
The Uzbek president called for the establishment of regular dialogues among trade and transport ministers to foster the development and implementation of specific proposals related to this project, emphasizing the mutual interests at stake.
Addressing the pressing issues of terrorism, extremism, radicalism, and drug trafficking, President Mirziyoyev stressed the need to strengthen ties and collaborate in protecting youth against these threats, particularly through digital platforms and other channels.
Drawing the attention of global leaders to the situation in Afghanistan, Mirziyoyev emphasized that regional and global security cannot be ensured without establishing peace in the South Asian country. He expressed positive sentiments regarding the outcomes of the First Meeting of the Special Representatives on Afghanistan held in Doha in May.
“I would like to draw your attention to the problem of Afghanistan. Without establishing peace in that country, not only regional, but global security cannot be guaranteed,” he said.
In this context, the Uzbek president called upon both regions to proactively raise awareness of Afghanistan’s challenges on the world stage and contribute meaningfully to improving the lives of the Afghan people.
“In general, our regions should be pro-active and draw the attention of the entire world community to the problems of Afghanistan from the highest rostrums and make a worthy contribution to bring relief into the lives of the Afghan people,” he added.
Leaders from the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries arrived in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia on Wednesday, ahead of their summit with the Central Asian C5 countries, which include Kazakhstan, the Kyrgyz Republic, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan.
The summit aims to address a wide range of issues, including economic cooperation, security challenges, and regional stability. Key discussions will focus on strengthening cooperation and coordination between both sides in various fields.
The GCC comprises Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Kuwait, Qatar, Oman, and Bahrain.
