The U.S. Department of State says U.S. Secretary of State Kerry met yesterday with four Central Asian foreign ministers on the margins of the OSCE Ministerial Meeting.

Welcoming ministers from Kazakhstan, the Kyrgyz Republic, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan, the Secretary reportedly regretted that the Foreign Minister of Turkmenistan was unable to make it to Hamburg while noting the continued strong commitment by all five countries to the C5+1 diplomatic platform.

The group continued the talks begun in Samarkand last November during Secretary Kerry’s historic trip to Central Asia, and built upon this August in Washington, according to the U.S. Department of State.

This was the fourth time the ministers have met to discuss regional issues of mutual interest, such as economic connectivity, regional security, environment and climate change, and humanitarian issues.

The Secretary congratulated the ministers on their countries’ 25th anniversary year of independence, and celebrated United States’ recognition of their independence and our support for the sovereignty, independence, and territorial integrity of each of their countries.

Kerry underscored the U.S. commitment to the C5+1 diplomatic platform as a means to work with the Central Asian countries on regional and global challenges, and highlighted our support for the region.

The US Secretary of State and the four foreign ministers also discussed the progress made on the five joint projects, which were agreed upon in August at the C5+1 ministerial meeting in Washington.  Secretary Kerry reiterated the United States’ commitment to the C5+1 format as it broadens and deepens its relationship with the Central Asian nations.

Recall, the first C5+1 meeting took place in Samarqand, Uzbekistan, on November 1, 2015.  The Samarqand meeting focused on regional cooperation, the fight against cross-border threats, and support for Afghanistan’s peace and stability.  The Samarqand meeting ended with adoption of a joint declaration.