HEADS OF UZBEKISTAN AND KAZAKHSTAN HOLD ENLARGED MEETING

The President of the Republic of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoev and the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan Nursultan Nazarbayev held talks with the participation of official delegations of the two countries in expanded format.

The sides discussed current state and prospects of further development of cooperation in political, trade-economic, investment, transport-communication, cultural-humanitarian and other spheres, exchanged opinions on regional and international issues.

Relations between our countries are gradually developing on the basis of the Treaty on eternal friendship between the Republic of Uzbekistan and the Republic of Kazakhstan, signed in Tashkent in 1998, and an Agreement on strategic partnership between Uzbekistan and the Republic of Kazakhstan, signed in 2013.

Our countries support each other in matters of international policy, interact productively within such multilateral bodies as the UN, SCO, CIS, Organization of Islamic Cooperation, the International Fund for Saving the Aral Sea

Uzbekistan supported the election of Kazakhstan as a temporary member of the UN Security Council for 2017-2018. This will protect the interests of the countries of our region in the international arena. Kazakhstan supported Uzbekistan’s initiative to establish a Nuclear-Free Zone in Central Asia, appreciates our country’s foreign policy based on the principles of non-alignment to any military-political blocs, the peaceful settlement of conflicts.

Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan have begun the path of independent development at the same time.

Kazakhstan is one of the important partners of our country in trade and economic sphere. Uzbekistan exports to Kazakhstan natural gas, automobiles, vehicles, mineral fertilisers, textile, electrical, fruits and vegetable products, building materials and various other goods and services. From Kazakhstan, our country imports crude oil, metals, flour, oils and fats products.

In Uzbekistan, tThere are about 230 enterprises with participation of the capital of Kazakhstan, while in Kazakhstan, there are more than 130 joint ventures with entrepreneurs of Uzbekistan.

In 2016, the volume of mutual trade turnover between our countries amounted to $2bn. It was noted that this figure, however, does not match the existing potential of both countries, it is possible to increase the turnover at least twice. Our economies do not compete, but rather complement each other. It was stressed that it is necessary to intensify activities of intergovernmental commissions and joint trade houses, the establishment of new markets.

The talks were held in an atmosphere of openness and understanding. The parties defined the prospects of further development of cooperation between our countries. They discussed issues of diversification of trade and economic ties while preserving their dynamics, expanding the volume and range of exports and imports, the development of cooperation between the entities of industry and entrepreneurship.

UzReport