Joint Statement on the Ministerial Meeting in the C5+1 Format

Current developments in the region confirm the significance and
relevance of the C5 + 1 format, which helps maintain a trust-based
dialogue and practical engagement between its participants in ensuring
sustainable peace, stability, and prosperity in Central Asia.

The United States reaffirms its continued support for the
sovereignty, independence, and territorial integrity of the countries of
the region, as well as its firm commitment to expanding multifaceted
regional cooperation in all areas of mutual interest.

In order to effectively utilize the potential of the Central Asian
region, the participants intend to develop partnerships in the following
priority areas:

• 
  Strengthening mutual trust, connectivity, and
  constructive cooperation in the further development of Central Asia as a
  strong, cohesive, independent, and prosperous region;
• 
  Encouraging coordinated regional projects aimed at
  promoting trade, transport, logistics and infrastructure ties, promoting
  entrepreneurship, as well as expanding business and investment contacts
  between the business community of the states of the region and the
  United States, including under the Trade and Investment Framework
  Agreement (TIFA);
• 
  Developing and intensifying the interaction between
  countries of the region in the energy sector, including in the area of
  renewable energy sources, and supporting national plans for adaptation
  to climate change;
• 
  Preparing proposals and initiatives aimed at improving
  the scientific, technological, social and innovative development of the
  region, as well as strengthening its tourism potential;
• 
  Expanding cultural, humanitarian, and educational ties;
• 
  Developing border security cooperation and intensifying
  joint efforts of the border forces of the countries of the region in
  combating cross-border threats such as the proliferation of weapons of
  mass destruction, terrorism, illegal migration, human trafficking and
  drug trafficking, including using the potential of the Central Asian
  Regional Information and Coordination Center;
• 
  Expanding dialogue on the threats posed by foreign
  terrorist fighters, sharing best practices in countering terrorism and
  violent extremism;
• 
  Supporting mutually beneficial cooperation in promoting
  the peace process and political settlement of the situation in
  Afghanistan, as well as strengthening trade, economic, transportation,
  and infrastructural ties between the states of the region and
  Afghanistan;
• 
  Strengthening civil society, including through the protection of human rights and compliance with international law;

The Secretary and Ministers thanked the Republic of Uzbekistan for
hosting this regular meeting of the heads of foreign affairs agencies in
the C5 + 1 format.