KABUL - Foreign Minister Dr. Zalmai Rassoul and visiting Australian Defence Minister on Wednesday expressed satisfaction over progress in bilateral discussions on a long-term strategic partnership.
Rassoul, who received Stephen Smith at the Foreign Ministry in Kabul, expressed the gratitude of the Afghan government and people for Australia's contributions over the past decade, particularly in the central Uruzgan province.

The partnership document will cover long-term cooperation between Afghanistan and Australia in the fields of security, development, trade and investment, cultural and people-to-people links, as well as migration and humanitarian affairs.

"I would like to thank you and the Australian people for your tremendous sacrifices here," Rassoul said, adding the way the Australian forces had performed in Uruzgan had been excellent. "Your engagement there has made possible tremendous progress."

For his part, Smith said: "Like you, we believe a lot has been done on security, in delivering health and other services to the people of Uruzgan. Continuing that drive to improve facilities and services there must remain a priority for all of us." (Pajhwok)