On February 3, Tajik Foreign Minister Sirojiddin Muhriddin met with U.S. Secretary of State Michael R. Pompeo in Tashkent on the sidelines of the Ministerial meeting of Central Asia-USA in the format of C5+1, according to the Tajik MFA information department.
In the course of the talks, the parties reportedly discussed the state and prospects of further expansion of bilateral relations between Tajikistan and the United States.
They also exchanged views on a number of regional and international issues being of mutual interest.
Tajik Foreign Minister Sirojiddin Muhriddin visited Tashkent to participate in the Ministerial meeting of Central Asia-USA in the format of C5+1, which was held in the Uzbek capital on February 3.
The Tajik MFA information department says Tajik foreign minister made remakes at the meeting.
The meeting was reportedly focused on issues related to enhancing economic and energy cooperation, strengthening border and regional security as well as the fight against international terrorism and extremism. A special attention was given to the issue of establishing peace and accord in Afghanistan
The meeting was held behind closed doors and more details of it were reported.
Meanwhile, China’s embassy in Tashkent has criticized the U.S. Secretary of State for “an attempt to drive a wedge between China and Central Asia’s nations.”
“In a statement made at a joint press conference with Uzbek Foreign Minister Abdulaziz Kamilov, Michael Pompeo publicly stated that he intends to discuss internal affairs of China with foreign ministers of Central Asia’s nations… Any attempts to slander China and sow discord between China and Central Asian nations are doomed to defeat,” says a statement released by China’s Embassy in Tashkent.
Some media reports say U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo pressed authorities in Kazakhstan to be wary of Russian and Chinese investment and influence.
According ABC News, Mr. Pompeo told senior Kazakh officials on Sunday that the attractiveness of such investment comes with a cost to sovereignty and may hurt, instead of help, long-term development.
