The Deputy Secretary will hold bilateral meetings with senior officials to discuss Uzbekistan’s efforts to support regional security and the US and NATO mission in Afghanistan.

He also will meet with civil society representatives. The Deputy Secretary looks forward to addressing efforts to deepen regional economic integration, as well as bilateral trade and investment ties, and the importance of strengthening democratic institutions and support for human rights.

He will also travel to Kabul, Afghanistan, where he will lead the US delegation to the “Heart of Asia” Conference and meet with senior Afghan officials and representatives from other partners and regional governments.

The United States is a strong supporter of the Afghanistan-led Istanbul Process, which has created an important framework for furthering regional cooperation in South and Central Asia.