State Department spokesman John Kirby said in a statement that the US initiated a new format for regional discussions.

The Secretary and the C5 foreign ministers discussed how the United States and countries of the region can work together to address common challenges to security and economic development, the statement reads.

The sides reviewed the security situation in Afghanistan and its impact on stability in Central Asia.

The Secretary and the foreign ministers agreed to consider further discussions in the C5+1 format in the near future, to supplement existing bilateral dialogues, the statement added.

The meeting was held on the sidelines of the 70th UN General Assembly in New York.