Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) -- The President of the Republic of Uzbekistan, Shavkat Mirziyoyev, and the President of the Kyrgyz Republic, Sadyr Japarov, continued their negotiations in an expanded format with the participation of official delegations from both countries.

It was noted that, in preparation for the current summit, a series of events had been successfully conducted, including the Intergovernmental Commission meeting, a business forum, a Rectors’ Forum, a Generations Dialogue, and various cultural events.

The results of joint work on key areas such as trade, industrial cooperation, energy, transport, agriculture, water management, security, culture, and other sectors were critically analyzed.

During the negotiations, the parties agreed to maintain intensive contacts at the level of parliaments, governments, ministries, agencies, regions, as well as business, expert, and public circles. A decision was made to establish an Intergovernmental Council.

The necessity of continuing close interaction within international and regional structures, including the UN, SCO, Organization of Turkic States, Consultative Meetings of Central Asian Heads of states, and other multilateral platforms, was highlighted.

Specific measures to increase trade turnover, primarily through import substitution programs and support for cooperation projects, were discussed.

To this end, a program to increase mutual trade volumes will be adopted during the visit. Additionally, trade houses will be established in both capitals, an export-import contract portfolio will be formed to reach a target of USUS$2 billion in the coming years, pre-export financing tools will be implemented, and a "green corridor" for expedited transportation of agricultural and livestock products will be launched.

It was noted that the portfolio of active industrial cooperation projects has already reached US$300 million. A new package of trade contracts and investment agreements in energy, logistics, electrical engineering, textiles, agro-industry, and other sectors was adopted during the business forum held the day before.

To promote such projects, the charter capital of the Uzbek-Kyrgyz Fund will be increased to US$200 million.

Cooperation in the energy sector was defined as a strategic direction.

The importance of swiftly signing the agreement and starting the practical phase of the Kambar-Ata HPP-1 construction project was emphasized. Additionally, considering the potential of both countries, a comprehensive cooperation program for the development of small hydropower was prepared.

The necessity of intensifying joint efforts to strengthen transport connectivity in the region was underscored.

A historic event in this direction was the signing of a tripartite agreement on the strategic project of constructing the China-Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan railway.

Prospective transport projects were also reviewed during the meeting.

It was noted that the regions of both countries are the real drivers of trade and economic cooperation. In this context, an agreement was reached to continue active contacts within the framework of the Council of Governors of Border Regions under the chairmanship of the Prime Ministers.

A schedule of mutual visits by regional delegations and an update of joint "road maps" will be prepared.

Agriculture was identified as an important area of interaction. This includes implementing an agro-cooperation program involving joint cultivation of crops, creation of intensive orchards, and agro-clusters.

Active exchanges in the fields of culture, youth, tourism, education, science, and sports will continue.

In this context, the successful conduct of the second Forum of Rectors of Higher Educational Institutions of Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan in Samarkand was noted with satisfaction.

An agreement was made to prepare a calendar of cultural events for the coming years.

During the meeting, reports from the Deputy Prime Ministers with specific proposals on the trade and economic agenda were heard.

Following the negotiations, the heads of states instructed to prepare a joint "road map" and establish mechanisms for the effective implementation of the agreements reached.