Uzbekistan, Tashkent, July 18 /Trend, D.Azizov/
U.S. ready to consolidate and boost the mutually beneficial Uzbek-American cooperation, said Deputy Secretary of State James Steinberg during a meeting with Uzbek President Islam Karimov.
President of Uzbekistan received James Steinberg on Saturday in Tashkent, National News Agency (UzA) reported.
According to report, the senior US diplomat stressed the constructive nature of Uzbekistan's policy aimed at maintaining and fostering peace in the region.
The two nations effectively cooperate to bolster regional security and stability in Central Asia that includes working out joint measures to counter transnational threats and challenges.
In this context, as Steinberg suggested, crucial have been Uzbekistan's initiatives on resolving the conflict in Afghanistan by non-military means and socio-economic reconstruction of that country.
Significant amounts of humanitarian goods and non-military cargo are delivered to Afghanistan through the territory of Uzbekistan. In addition, Uzbekistan provides practical assistance to its southern neighbor by supplying it with electricity, construction materials and soft commodities. Furthermore, our country participates in building up Afghanistan's transport infrastructure.
Islam Karimov expressed satisfaction with the current state and positive dynamics of bilateral relations developing in the spirit of partnership and mutual understanding.
Prospects of enhancing the bilateral cooperation on a wide range of issues and other topics of common interest have also been discussed at the event.
As previously reported, since the beginning of the year several high-ranking representatives of the U.S. government have visited Uzbekistan.
In February, U.S. special envoy for Afghanistan and Pakistan, Richard Holbrooke visited Tashkent, in April the head of U.S. Central Command Gen. David Petraeus made a visit to the country, in June Uzbekistan was visited by Assistant Secretaries of State for South and Central Asian Affairs, Robert Blake, for Democracy, Human Rights and Labor, Michael Posner and for Population, Refugees and Migration, Eric Schwartz.