Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev has called for closer cooperation between Central Asia, the South Caucasus and Afghanistan, saying a historic opportunity has emerged to create a shared development space in the heart of Eurasia.

Speaking at an informal consultative meeting of Central Asian leaders and the President of Azerbaijan in Kyrgyzstan on Friday, Mirziyoyev said Central Asia should now be viewed within a broader geopolitical framework.

He said the region, which was once divided, is gradually moving toward greater cooperation around a common development agenda, while Azerbaijan’s participation expands this process beyond Central Asia.

“A historic opportunity is opening before us to create a common space for development linking Central Asia, the South Caucasus, and Afghanistan. We must seize this moment to build lasting ties and good-neighborly relations in the heart of Eurasia,” Mirziyoyev said.

The Uzbek leader emphasized the importance of strengthening regional connectivity, economic cooperation and long-term relations among neighboring countries.

The head of Afghanistan’s power utility company has requested Uzbekistan’s cooperation in identifying and resolving technical problems in Afghanistan’s electricity network.

Haji Mullah Abdul Haq Hamkar, Chief Executive Officer of Da Afghanistan Breshna Sherkat (DABS), held talks with Dr. Akmal Jumanazarov, head of Uzbekistan’s Technical Regulation Agency under the Cabinet of Ministers, during his visit to Uzbekistan.

The two sides discussed technical standards in the electricity sector, improving the capacity of testing laboratories, implementing international standards, and expanding technical cooperation.

Hamkar called on Uzbekistan to support DABS in calibrating testing equipment, standardizing laboratories, and establishing mobile laboratories to help detect and resolve technical problems in the power network more quickly and accurately.

Uzbekistan’s Technical Regulation Agency also expressed readiness to cooperate in enhancing the technical capacity of DABS employees, calibrating equipment, organizing specialized training programs, and providing mobile laboratory facilities.

Both sides emphasized the importance of continued cooperation, exchange of technical expertise, implementation of international standards, and improving the quality and reliability of Afghanistan’s electricity sector.

China’s Special Envoy for Afghanistan, Yue Xiaoyong, said he held talks with a senior Turkish diplomat in Ankara on Afghanistan’s peaceful reconstruction and regional security.

In a post on X, Yue said he met with Cihad Erginay, Director General for South Asia at Türkiye’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and described the discussions as productive.

“As always I am delighted meeting with Mr. Cihad Erginay… We had a very good discussion as to peaceful reconstruction of Afghanistan as well as regional security and stability,” Yue wrote.

The meeting comes as China and Türkiye continue diplomatic engagement on Afghanistan following the return of the Islamic Emirate to power in 2021. Both countries have repeatedly emphasized the importance of regional cooperation, economic development and stability in Afghanistan.