The region of good neighborliness and cooperation

Thanks to the political will of the leaders of the Central Asian states, it was possible to form a truly new political paradigm of cooperation. Many long-standing problems have been solved, the process of economic integration has begun, contacts have been intensified, including at the level of public diplomacy.

All this has created conditions for the transformation of the region into a single trade, investment, transport and communication platform. Industrial cooperation projects are being implemented in various sectors of the economy — starting from the automotive industry and ending with agriculture. Contacts between the regions are expanding, cultural and humanitarian ties are deepening. If earlier this trend was well manifested by the example of Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan, now Kyrgyzstan is increasingly participating in these processes.
Uzbekistan attaches particular importance to the further development and strengthening of cooperation with Kyrgyzstan, close cooperation with which is based on deep historical roots, commonality and closeness of national traditions, religion, language and culture. Currently, Uzbek-Kyrgyz cooperation has a solid legal framework consisting of more than 180 regulatory documents. These agreements cover trade, economy, science, tourism, transport, culture and other areas.
Thanks to the joint efforts and political will of the heads of State, high-level meetings and contacts served to strengthen comprehensive and mutually beneficial cooperation. We can say with full confidence that the development of friendly and mutually beneficial interstate relations is the practical realization of the desire and aspiration of the two peoples to live in peace and harmony. So, in 2022, about 2.5 million citizens of Uzbekistan visited the neighboring country, and the number of guests from Kyrgyzstan to Uzbekistan exceeded 1.3 million. These figures indicate that bilateral relations have reached a new stage of development.
Completion of the registration of the state border between Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan in accordance with international norms and mutual interests. turning it into a border of friendship, good-neighborliness and cooperation will contribute to the further development of trade, economic and cultural ties not only between the two countries, but also in the region as a whole.
The other day, Shavkat Mirziyoyev received Chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers — Head of the Presidential Administration of Kyrgyzstan Akylbek Zhaparov, who conveyed Sadyr Zhaparov's sincere greetings to the head of our state. The issues of practical implementation of the agreements reached at the highest level in January 2023 in Bishkek were considered. Special attention is paid to further deepening of Uzbek-Kyrgyz relations of comprehensive strategic partnership, expansion of cooperation in the field of economy, trade, energy, transport and logistics, as well as activation of interregional contacts and cultural and humanitarian exchange.
The effectiveness of A. Zhaparov's visit to our country is emphasized by the fact that more than 15 documents were signed following its results, including an agreement on cooperation on the organization of large-scale assembly of automotive and commercial equipment, as well as memoranda on the establishment of pharmaceutical production. These and other agreements will contribute to the speedy implementation of cooperation projects in the automotive industry, the creation of joint cotton-tech-style clusters, the production of electrical appliances, as well as the joint development of mineral deposits.
In this regard, we highlight the words of the Prime Minister of Uzbekistan Abdullah Aripov, who stated that we have every opportunity to reach the two billion dollar mark of mutual trade turnover and advocate the speedy implementation of major joint projects, in particular the construction of the Kambarata HPP-1 and the China-Kyrgyzstan—Uzbekistan railway.
There are already 258 enterprises with Kyrgyz capital operating in Uzbekistan, of which 107 are joint ventures and 151 are foreign. In 2016, there were only 49 such enterprises. Undoubtedly, the visit of A. Zhaparov will contribute to the further development of multilateral relations between Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan. This will allow not only to maintain good-neighborly and friendly ties, but also to meet the requirements of strategic partnership.

Aktam Khaitov,
Deputy Speaker of the Legislative Chamber
 Oliy Majlis