It's necessary to develop cooperation to counter terrorism, drug trafficking - Central Asian FMs
BISHKEK. July 21 (Interfax) - The heads of the Central Asian foreign affairs agencies have noted the need for the development of cooperation in countering international terrorism and extremism, the press service for the Kyrgyz Foreign Ministry told Interfax on Saturday.
The parties noted in a joint statement that it is necessary to develop further cooperation in countering international terrorism and extremism, illegal drug trafficking, transnational organized crime and other challenges and threats to regional security as part of international and regional organizations among others, the press service said.
"The ministers emphasized the importance of the upcoming consultative meeting of the heads of the Central Asian states in Tashkent in March 2019 in order to deepen and expand regional cooperation further," it said.
In the joint statements, the parties welcomed the existing positive developments in the process of the international formalization of the state borders between the Central Asian countries, intensification of interregional and border cooperation in the region and emphasized the need to create favorable conditions for further strengthening of trade and economic ties, increasing mutual trade.
A meeting of the heads of the Central Asian foreign affairs agencies is taking place on the shores of the Lake Issyk-Kul on July 20-22. The participants are Kazakh Foreign Minister Kairat Abdrakhmanov, Kyrgyz Foreign Minister Erlan Abdyldayev, Tajik Foreign Minister Sirodzhiddin Mukhriddin, Uzbek Foreign Minister Abdulaziz Kamilov, and Turkmen Deputy Foreign Minister Berdiniyaz Myatiyev.