DUSHANBE, August 2, 2016, Asia-Plus – Foreign Minister Sirojiddin Aslov heading a Tajik delegation today left Jakarta, Indonesia for Washington to participate in a joint meeting of Central Asian foreign ministers with Washington’s top diplomat that will take place there tomorrow, according to the Tajik MFA information department.
The meeting will take place as part of a new format for dialogue between the United States and the Central Asian nations known as the C5+1.
Press release issued by the U.S. Department of State says U.S. Secretary of State Kerry will host the foreign ministers from Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan on August 3, 2016, at the Department of State, for the second ministerial meeting of the C5+1 diplomatic platform.
All five foreign Ministers will deliver opening remarks. The group will then discuss regional security, economic connectivity, environment and climate change, and humanitarian issues. They will also discuss five proposed projects developed by C5+1 working groups following the first ministerial in Samarqand, Uzbekistan in November last year.
Following the ministerial meeting, Deputy Secretary of State Antony Blinken will host a lunch with the five ministers and leaders from prominent U.S. think tanks to share ideas about Central Asia’s development in the 21st century.
The U.S. Chamber of Commerce will then host a business forum with the Central Asian ministers and senior executives from major U.S. companies to discuss the opportunities and challenges of the region. The Chamber will also host a cultural reception to celebrate the Central Asian states’ 25th anniversaries of independence, the region’s unique cultural heritage, and partnerships between the Central Asian states and U.S. government, business, academic and cultural institutions.
The first C5+1 meeting took place in Samarqand, Uzbekistan, on November 1, 2015. The Samarqand meeting focused on regional cooperation, the fight against cross-border threats, and support for Afghanistan”s peace and stability. The Samarqand meeting ended with adoption of a joint declaration.
