Aripov, leading a delegation, was welcomed at Kabul airport
by Abdul Salam Hanafi, the Taliban’s deputy prime minister, and other senior
government officials, according to a statement from Afghanistan's Ministry of
Industry and Commerce.
During
his visit, Aripov met with Taliban leaders to discuss bilateral relations, with
a focus on strengthening trade and business ties between the two countries. The
talks resulted in the signing of five trade and investment agreements.
Additionally, the officials are set to inaugurate an
exhibition of Uzbek products in Afghanistan.
Earlier in the week, an Uzbek delegation engaged in meetings
with Afghanistan's Ministry of Commerce. On Friday, Afghan media reported a
trilateral meeting among the economy ministers of Afghanistan, Uzbekistan, and
Azerbaijan in Kabul to explore ways to enhance trade relations.
Uzbekistan and Afghanistan, which share a 144-kilometer
(89-mile) border, have seen a recent improvement in relations.
The Taliban, who seized power in Afghanistan in August 2021
as US and NATO troops withdrew, have yet to be recognized by the international
community due to concerns over their restrictive policies.
