AKIPRESS.COM - President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev during the joint press conference with Russian President Vladimir Putin on April 5 expressed condolences to the families and friends of the victims who died in the explosion on the St Petersburg metro.

"We strongly condemn this act committed by terrorists and their accomplices, and affirm that we are ready to actively cooperate in fighting challenges and threats for the security of our countries and the entire region," Mirziyoyev said.

Uzbekistan greatly values the strategic partnership and alliance between the two countries, he said. "Our meeting once again showed that Uzbekistan and Russia share long-term interests."

"Mr Putin and I, as usual, had an open and confidential exchange views on key issues of regional security and the international situation. We agreed on concrete measures to further expand our multifaceted practical cooperation," he said.

He said Putin and him gave a special attention to the situation in Afghanistan during their bilateral talks.

"We are convinced that there is no military solution to the Afghan problem. The only way is through peaceful political talks under the aegis of the United Nations. Uzbekistan supports Russia’s efforts to find ways of resolving the Afghan conflict and will attend an extended meeting in Moscow on April 14," he said.