Kazakhstan's Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of National Economy, Serik Zhumangarin, met senior Afghan officials in Kabul during a three-day visit aimed at expanding political, trade, transit and investment cooperation.
The Kazakh delegation met Afghanistan's Prime Minister, Interior Minister and Herat Governor Mawlana Islamjar, according to officials.
The talks covered security, counter-narcotics efforts, technology, transit and regional cooperation. In Herat, officials discussed railway projects, easier visa procedures for traders and increased visits by Kazakh investors.
Zhumangarin said Afghanistan remained an important partner for Astana.
"The issue of Afghanistan remains of special importance to Kazakhstan. Afghanistan is one of Kazakhstan's most important partners in Central and South Asia," he said.
Afghanistan's Ministry of Industry and Commerce said 25 memorandums of cooperation were signed during the Afghan-Kazakh Forum.
"The agreements were signed between private-sector representatives of the two countries in various import and export sectors, including medicines, vegetables, dried and fresh fruits, banking cooperation, flour, wheat, cooking oil and potatoes," the ministry said.
The agreements could help Afghan fruit and vegetable exporters reach Central Asian markets, support food supplies through imports of wheat, flour and cooking oil, and facilitate payments through greater banking cooperation.
Nooruddin Azizi, Afghanistan's Minister of Industry and Commerce, said transport links would also be expanded.
"Transit through the territory of Kazakhstan via the Chinese railway network to Kazakhstan and then onward to Afghanistan will be expanded. The Kazakh side is prepared to provide discounts and subsidies on transit costs and the transportation of Afghan containers," Azizi said.
In a separate meeting in Uzbekistan, Afghanistan's Ministry of Public Health said Abdul Basir Qanih met Abdullah Azizov, Director of Uzbekistan's Agency for the Development of the Pharmaceutical Industry.
The ministry said the two sides discussed drug registration, Good Manufacturing Practice standards, laboratory capacity, specialist training and market access for pharmaceutical companies.
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