The special representatives of China, Iran, Uzbekistan, Pakistan and India met on Saturday with Acting Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi on the sidelines of the 6th Moscow Format meeting, said Zia Ahmad Takal, deputy spokesman for the ministry.

Takal said in a statement that bilateral political relations and economic cooperation between Afghanistan and the region's countries were discussed in these meetings.

Muttaqi stated that Afghanistan's security situation is reliable and its security is in the interest of all countries in the region.

He emphasized the development of economic, commercial and investment cooperation between Afghanistan and related countries.

The envoys, meanwhile, stressed increasing interaction and all-round cooperation with Afghanistan and described the situation in Afghanistan as reliable.

The United States will provide nearly $157 million in new humanitarian assistance to support populations affected by conflict in Lebanon and the region, the State Department said in a statement on Friday.

"This funding will address new and existing needs of internally displaced persons and refugee populations inside Lebanon and the communities that host them. The assistance will also support those fleeing to neighboring Syria," the State Department said.

Acting Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi has met with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov on the sidelines of the sixth meeting of the Moscow Format Consultations on Afghanistan.

The two sides discussed bilateral political and economic relations and regional issues, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan (IEA) said in a statement on Saturday.

Muttaqi considered the Moscow Format Consultations on Afghanistan of special importance for the Afghan government and requested that it become a mechanism for developing cooperation between Afghanistan and regional countries.

He mentioned the political and economic developments between Afghanistan and regional countries and expressed hope that the level of diplomatic relations between Russia and the Islamic Emirate will increase.

Muttaqi also talked about security and stability in Afghanistan, saying that security has made conditions suitable for investment in Afghanistan.

According to the Foreign Ministry’s statement, Lavrov emphasized on the expansion of his country's relations with Afghanistan in the political and economic fields, adding that Russian companies are interested in investing in agriculture, mining and transport sectors in Afghanistan.

He also pointed to Afghanistan's position in the wake of recent developments in the region and the world, saying that Afghanistan can play an important role in the region's economic connectivity.