ALMATY: Prime Minister Alikhan Smailov of Kazakhstan and his Uzbek counterpart Abdulla Aripov held discussions in Almaty ahead of the Eurasian Intergovernmental Council meeting, focusing on enhancing trade and economic cooperation, agricultural collaboration, transit and transport, and gas sector interactions.
A key agenda item included reviewing the roadmap designed to boost bilateral trade turnover and evaluating the progress of cooperative industrial projects. The leaders also placed special emphasis on expanding interstate water relations, affirming their commitment to fulfilling previous agreements and further strengthening cooperation, particularly in the joint management and utilization of transboundary water facilities.
Smailov underscored Kazakhstan’s significant attention to developing a strategic partnership with Uzbekistan, acknowledging the exemplary nature of their cooperation in the region due to the concerted efforts of both heads of state.
“Thanks to the efforts of the Heads of State, our cooperation now is an example for the entire region,” stated Smailov, highlighting the strategic importance of the partnership.
Trade Partnership Between Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan
The Kazakh Prime Minister also highlighted Uzbekistan’s standing as a major trade partner, with the trade turnover exceeding the $5 billion target in 2022. In the first 11 months of the previous year, mutual trade reached $4.1 billion. Smailov expressed the goal of elevating the trade turnover to $10 billion and emphasized the readiness of the Kazakh government for active collaboration to achieve this objective.
In response, Aripov noted the rapid growth of the strategic partnership between Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan, emphasizing the foundations of friendship, good-neighborliness, and mutual respect. He reiterated the commitment to concrete tasks outlined by the heads of both states to advance multifaceted relations, expressing readiness to take all necessary measures to achieve these goals.
