The United States welcomes the achievement by Uzbekistan of an agreement on the demarcation of the state border with Kyrgyzstan, stated the US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken before the start of negotiations with the Uzbek Foreign Minister Vladimir Norov in Washington on Monday.

“I think this sends a powerful signal to many in the region and beyond about the importance of diplomacy in dealing with issues like this,” the head of the State Department said.

Vladimir Norov, at the head of the government delegation, arrived in the United States to attend the second meeting of the Strategic Partnership Dialogue between Uzbekistan and the United States.

“This year, Uzbekistan and the United States are celebrating the 30th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations and the 20th anniversary of our strategic partnership,” the Uzbek Foreign Minister said.

“Over the past years, our cooperation has grown significantly in all areas of bilateral and regional cooperation within the C5 + 1 format,” he said, adding that Uzbekistan highly appreciated the continued support of the US administration for the reform programs of President Shavkat Mirziyoyev.

At the talks, the parties intend to discuss common priorities for expanding bilateral relations in the areas of trade and investment, science and technology, education and human potential building, Vladimir Norov added. Security issues and the situation in Afghanistan will also be touched upon.

Anthony Blinken stated that the US was committed to "the sovereignty, independence, and territorial integrity of Uzbekistan and that the United States highly valued "the reform efforts, including on religious freedom, on forced labor."

At the end of November, the leaders of Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan signed laws on the ratification of an agreement between the two countries on cettain sections of the state border and an agreement on the joint management of the Andijan (Kempir-Abad) reservoir.