MOSCOW: Afghanistan’s Foreign Minister Mawlavi Amir Khan Muttaqi said the existing political understanding between Afghanistan and Russia should be translated into practical economic cooperation.
Muttaqi made the remarks during a meeting with Russian Deputy Prime Minister Alexei Overchuk in Moscow, where the two sides discussed expanding economic, trade, transit and energy cooperation between the two countries.
Referring to the positive development of political relations, Muttaqi expressed appreciation for Russia’s policy toward Afghanistan and said the existing political understanding should lead to practical economic cooperation.
He emphasized expanding trade, transit and regional connectivity, Russian investment in Afghanistan, cooperation in energy and mining, and creating banking and payment facilities between the two countries.
Overchuk, meanwhile, expressed Russia’s readiness to expand economic cooperation with Afghanistan, saying conditions were suitable for launching practical cooperation between the two sides.
He also stressed the development of cooperation in transit, transportation and energy, and noted a significant increase in trade between Afghanistan and Russia over the past year.