MOSCOW/KABUL - Russia has officially recognized the Afghan interim government, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Afghanistan said in a statement late Thursday.

Russia's RIA Novosti news agency also quoted Russian Special Presidential Envoy for Afghanistan Zamir Kabulov as saying that Russia has officially recognized the Taliban government in Afghanistan.

According to the statement of the Afghan Foreign Ministry, Dmitry Zhirnov, the Russian ambassador to Afghanistan, met with Mawlawi Amir Khan Muttaqi, acting minister of foreign affairs of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan, to formally deliver Moscow's decision to recognize the Islamic Emirate as the official government of Afghanistan.

Zhirnov called the move as a "historic step" toward deepening ties and strengthening cooperation between the two nations, the statement noted.

Welcoming the decision, Muttaqi described it as a new phase of positive relations, mutual respect and constructive engagement.

Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Andrey Rudenko received copies of Letters of Credence from the newly appointed ambassador of Afghanistan to Russia, said a statement of the Russian foreign ministry on July 3.

The Russian foreign ministry announced the decision to upgrade Afghanistan's representation to the ambassadorial level in April.