US Agrees on Trade, Nonproliferation Cooperation With Central Asian States

The so-called C5+1 format of five Central Asian foreign ministers and the US secretary will address climate change, work toward creating a favorable business and entrepreneurship climate, as well as uphold human rights, according to a US State Department joint ministerial declaration.

WASHINGTON (Sputnik) – The United States agreed to expand trade, nuclear and security cooperation with five Central Asian states, a US State Department joint ministerial declaration published Sunday stated.

"[The foreign ministers declare commitment to] improve mutually beneficial cooperation in regional trade, transport and communication, energy linkages, and transit opportunities," the declaration said.

It added that the so-called C5+1 format of five Central Asian foreign ministers and the US secretary will address climate change, work toward creating a favorable business and entrepreneurship climate, as well as uphold human rights. The diplomats expressed support for neighboring Afghanistan and pledged to fight terrorism and trafficking.

"Contribute to global and regional nonproliferation efforts, including by respecting the provisions of the Treaty on a Nuclear-Weapons-Free Zone in Central Asia and pursuing entry into force of the Treaty’s Protocol," the document stated.

US State Secretary John Kerry arrived in the Kazakh capital of Astana for a three-day visit on Sunday, after trips to Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan, where the declaration was signed.

The US diplomat is due to travel to Tajikistan and Turkmenistan as part of his Central Asian tour.