A/RES/73/88 The situation in Afghanistan security, stability and economic and social development in Afghanistan, recognizes in this regard the importance of the contribution of neighbouring and regional partners and regional organizations, recalls the importance of the Kabul Declaration on Good neighbourly Relations of 22 December 2002 15 and welcomes in this regard the continued commitment of the international community to supporting the stability and development of Afghanistan, encourages further improved relations and enhanced engagement between Afghanistan and its neighbours, calls for furt her efforts in this regard, including in the framework of the Heart of Asia -Istanbul Process on Regional Security and Cooperation for a Secure and Stable Afghanistan and by regional organizations and long-term strategic partnerships and other agreements ai med at achieving a peaceful, stable and prosperous Afghanistan, welcomes international and regional initiatives in this regard, such as those of the Collective Security Treaty Organization, the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation, the Economic Cooperation Organization, the Regional Economic Cooperation Conference on Afghanistan process, the European Union, the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, the Quadrilateral Cooperation and Coordination Mechanism in Counter-Terrorism comprising the armed forces of Afghanistan, China, Pakistan and Tajikistan, the China-Afghanistan-Pakistan dialogues and the Conference on Interaction and Confidence-building Measures in Asia; 63. Welcomes the important initiatives for regional connectivity, notably in the frameworks of the Regional Economic Cooperation Conference on Afghanistan and the Heart of Asia-Istanbul Process confidence-building measures to facilitate increased trade throughout the region, commends the holding of the seventh Regional Economic Cooperation Conference on Afghanistan in Ashgabat on 14 and 15 November 2017, and looks forward to the forthcoming Heart of Asia Ministerial Conference, to be held in Turkey in 2019; 64. Emphasizes, in this regard, the importance of strengthening local and regional networks of transportation that will facilitate connectivity for economic development, stability and self-sustainability, particularly the completion and maintenance of local railroad and land routes, the development of regional project s to foster further connectivity and the enhancement of international civil aviation capabilities; 65. Welcomes and urges further efforts to strengthen the process of regional economic cooperation, including measures to facilitate regional connectivity, trade and transit, acknowledges the progress made on such projects and initiatives as the Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan-India (TAPI) gas pipeline project, the Central Asia South Asia Electricity Transmission and Trade Project (CAS A-1000), the Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan (TAP) 500 and Turkmenistan-UzbekistanTajikistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan (TUTAP) electricity projects, the PakistanAfghanistan-Tajikistan Regional Integration Programme (PATRIP), the Chabahar agreement between Afghanistan, India and the Islamic Republic of Iran and the transport of development assistance from India to Afghanistan through the Chabahar port, the Lapis Lazuli Transit, Trade and Transport Route agreement and the Turkmenistan-Aqina railway segment and on bilateral transit trade agreements, expanded consular visa cooperation and the facilitation of business travel, to expand trade, increase foreign investments and develop infrastructure, including infrastructural connectivity, energy supply, transport and integrated border management, with a view to promoting sustainable economic growth and the creation of jobs in Afghanistan and the region, notes the historical role of Afghanistan as a land bridge in Asia, recalls that such regional economic cooperation plays an important role in achieving stability and development in Afghanistan, in this regard __________________ 15 14/15 S/2002/1416, annex. 18-21201