The international conference “Afghanistan and the region: practical approach for sustainable development” will be held in Vilnius on 19 September. Officials from Lithuania and other Nordic and Baltic countries will share their experience and successful examples of cooperation in the Baltic region with officials from Afghanistan and its neighbouring countries.

Minister of Foreign Affairs Audronius Ažubalis and Minister for Foreign Affairs of Afghanistan Zalmai Rassoul will open the event.

The conference will discuss the importance of political and economic cooperation between Afghanistan and its neighbouring countries, the creation of regional networks and the role of regional cooperation in boosting economic development of Afghanistan and its neighbouring countries.

The discussions will focus on factors and measures, which could promote stronger regional cooperation in Afghanistan and its neighbourhood. Officials, representatives from the academic community and independent experts from participating countries will share their ideas.

The event will also be attended by the EU Special Representative for Central Asia Patricia Flor, EU Special Representative for Afghanistan Vygaudas Ušackas, Deputy Ministers for Foreign Affairs of the United Arab Emirates and Tajikistan, diplomats and regional cooperation experts from the Baltic and Nordic countries, India, Japan, the United States, Pakistan, Turkey, Central Asian countries, the European Commission, the Secretariat of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe, the United Nations, other countries and international organisations.

An exhibition of photographs of the findings of Lithuanian archaeologists in the Ghor province will run during the conference.