The President of Kazakhstan noted that it is symbolic that the official visit of the President of Uzbekistan to Kazakhstan is taking place on the eve of the 20th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries.
“We attach great importance to the development of bilateral cooperation. During the years of independence our countries establish a solid legal base consisting of about more than a hundred documents. Today we have agreed to carry out an update check of bilateral documents. We discussed the state and prospects of the Kazakh-Uzbek relations. We also exchanged views on international and regional issues of mutual interest, " the President of Kazakhstan said.
Nursultan Nazarbayev stressed that the trade and economic cooperation between the two countries is experiencing a steady growth. During last year the trade turnover increased by 24 percent, compared to the year of 2010, and amounted to US$ 2 billion. For the first half of the current year, it has grown by more than 8 percent and reached almost US$ 1 billion.
“We are aimed at further increase of trade turnover and will make joint efforts for expansion of the list of products. We have significant potential for the development of cooperation in investment, transport, communications, agricultural, cultural-humanitarian and other spheres. Discussion of the mechanism of joint usage of water-energy resources of the Central-Asian region and promotion of activity of the International Fund for Saving the Aral Sea has become an important topic of the negotiations. We also discussed the prospects of cooperation in transport and transit sphere. Together we can make our region an important transit bridge between Europe and Asia," the President of Kazakhstan said.
Nursultan Nazarbayev also pointed out that in the course of negotiations the sides discussed topical issues of the regional agenda, as well as interaction within international organizations.
“In particular, we exchanged views on the situation in Afghanistan and in the Middle East. Security and stability of Central Asia largely depend on our mutual efforts. And we intend to expand cooperation in the field of combating transnational threats and challenges, as under the framework of multilateral organizations, as well as at the bilateral level. In conclusion, I would like to emphasize the mutual intention to deepen strategic partnership for the benefit of the peoples of Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan,” Nursultan Nazarbayev highlighted.
In his speech the President of Uzbekistan thanked the Kazakh side for the warm welcome and the successful negotiations.
“First of all, I would like to express my great satisfaction with the stay of our delegation in Kazakhstan and with fruitful talks with the President of Kazakhstan. For a long time we had not such a frank discussion on almost all areas of interest for us. I really needed such a friendly meeting and substantive conversation. Together we discussed and assessed the difficult situation in the region and possible negative consequences of the world financial crisis for our countries. And I have to say that we have reached a mutual agreement on all issues of interest, reaffirmed our common approaches and aspiration to joint settlement of tasks we are challenged with. I consider it is the main result of our bilateral meeting and extended talks of the delegations. Moreover, we expressed mutual aspiration for the coordination of our countries within international and regional organizations, which will be facilitated by the joint program of our foreign policy ministries,” the President of Uzbekistan said.
Islam Karimov emphasized the high level of trade turnover between our countries, and agreed with Nursultan Nazarbayev in the fact that there are all conditions and reasons for its significant growth in the coming years.
"We agreed that the trade turnover does not fully meet the potential of our economies and there is need to further strengthen trade and economic cooperation. One of the most important conditions for the development of economic interaction between the countries is the agreement in the transport and communications sphere. Another key topic of our discussions was the rational use of water-energy resources of our region. A thorough, collaborative and comprehensive approach from all the countries of the region needs to settle this problem. We also reached the agreement on further cooperation in cultural-humanitarian sphere, which is the most important factor of rapprochement of our peoples that contributes to the strengthening of interethnic consent. In conclusion, I would like to stress that the visit to Kazakhstan is aimed to confirm the historical, cultural and spiritual closeness of the Uzbek and Kazakh peoples, the common interests and continuity of the destinies of our countries. These values will continue to be the basis of the relations and cooperation between our countries, “ the President of Uzbekistan added.
Following the talks, the ceremony of signing of joint documents took place. Among them are the joint statement made by President of the Republic of Kazakhstan Nursultan Nazarbayev and President of the Republic of Uzbekistan Islam Karimov, the Agreement between the Government of the Republic of Kazakhstan and the Government of the Republic of Uzbekistan on Readmission and Transit of Persons and the Executive Protocol to It, the Protocol on Amendments and Supplements to the Agreement between the Government of the Republic of Kazakhstan and the Government of the Republic of Uzbekistan on the Conditions of Mutual Trips of Citizens, the Protocol on Amendments and Supplements to the Protocol to the Agreement between the Government of the Republic of Kazakhstan and the Government of the Republic of Uzbekistan on Checkpoints at the Kazakh-Uzbek State Border.