TASHKENT (TCA) — At the invitation of Uzbekistan President Shavkat Mirziyoyev, President of Kazakhstan Kasym-Zhomart Tokayev paid a state visit to Uzbekistan.
During the negotiations on April 15, agreements were reached on the implementation of joint projects in the field of transport, logistics and industrial cooperation, the press service of the Uzbek president said. It was noted that the enlargement of cooperation in the transport and communications sector will expand the export potential and transit capabilities of the two countries.
The possibilities of boosting the exchanges in tourism, culture, science and education were also discussed. The sides stressed the successful organization of the Year of Uzbekistan in Kazakhstan in 2018, whose events helped to further cement the relations of friendship and fraternity between the two peoples. The Year of Kazakhstan in Uzbekistan was officially opened during the state visit of the President of Kazakhstan to Tashkent.
In 2018, bilateral trade grew by almost 50 percent and exceeded 3 billion dollars.
The two countries confirmed their shared desire to reach the level of 5 billion dollars in bilateral trade in the coming years. The Intergovernmental Commission on Bilateral Cooperation between Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan has been tasked with expanding the range of trade relations, search for and develop new long-term forms of economic cooperation. That would contribute to the consolidation and enhancement of economic interaction, the realization of promising new projects in the fields of trade, investments, logistics, to the creation of integrated industrial technology parks, research and innovation clusters and free economic zones.
Following the meetings, about ten documents were signed, including on the protection of labor rights of Kazakhstan citizens working in Uzbekistan and Uzbek citizens working in Kazakhstan, and a memorandum of understanding on the establishment of the Central Asia International Trade and Economic Cooperation Center.
