Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) – The first meeting of the Supreme Interstate Council was held at the Akorda Residence under the chairmanship of President of the Republic of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev and President of the Republic of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev.

Our head of state, expressing gratitude to the leader and people of Kazakhstan for their warm welcome, emphasized that today is a special day in the history of Uzbek-Kazakh cooperation.

“Today, we are holding the first meeting of the Supreme Interstate Council, which is a historic event in the development of strategic partnership and alliance relations between our countries,” said Shavkat Mirziyoyev.

It was particularly noted that in recent years, Uzbek-Kazakh relations have gained significant momentum.

In preparation for the visit, successful meetings of the Intergovernmental Commission and Business Council, a business forum, political consultations, a think tank forum, and intellectual games have been held. Days of cinema, exhibitions, concerts, and many other events are also taking place.

The leaders of the two countries welcomed the adoption of the historic Strategic Partnership and Alliance Program for 2024-2034, which marks the beginning of a new qualitative stage in the Uzbek-Kazakh relations of friendship and good neighborliness.

During the meeting, our head of state outlined a number of priority tasks.

First and foremost, the importance of coordinating positions and effectively promoting common interests within international structures was emphasized.

An agreement was reached to increase the effectiveness of contacts, establish an Interparliamentary Forum, and continue the close work of the Expert Council.

The possibilities of increasing trade turnover to US$10 billion in the coming years were thoroughly discussed. To this end, a separate program will be adopted by the end of the month, with particular attention given to mutual market formation and the removal of existing barriers.

Our country’s leader highlighted the need for adopting a new industrial cooperation strategy.

The parties welcomed the signing of a substantial package of agreements worth US$7 billion following the business forum and business meetings held earlier.

These include cooperation in the fields of energy, logistics, construction, chemicals, electrical engineering, textiles, agro-industrial, and other sectors.

An agreement was reached to accelerate the launch of the International Industrial Cooperation Center and explore the possibility of creating a Joint Fund to financially support promising projects.

Interaction between regions, recognized as real drivers of economic cooperation, was identified as one of the important areas of strategic partnership.

A decision was made to transform the Forum into a Council of Regions involving all oblasts and central cities, and to hold its first meeting in Samarkand in the fall. The governments were instructed to approve a schedule of mutual regional visits to achieve concrete agreements.

Readiness was expressed for the joint implementation of projects in the construction of energy facilities and infrastructure, as well as the development of alternative energy sources.

The preparation of major regional projects, primarily the construction of the Kambarata-1 Hydropower Plant, will be accelerated.

In the field of transport and transit, an agreement was reached to work on projects for the construction of new transport corridors between the two countries, involving business circles. Additionally, the importance of enhancing efforts to create modern logistics infrastructure was emphasized.

A unified approach to water use issues in the region was noted. Work will continue on forming a reliable legal framework, automating and digitizing water management facilities.

Special attention was paid to the development of exchanges in culture, education, youth, and tourism.

"In these days, Days of Uzbek Cinema, exhibitions, festivals, and concerts are taking place in Astana. The intellectual game ‘Zakovat’ was successfully held. Such events bring our youth closer together and introduce them to a shared history and values," our head of state emphasized.

This will also be facilitated by the adoption of a Cultural and Humanitarian Cooperation Action Plan for 2024-2025.

In the field of education, the launch of branches of leading universities in the two countries will begin today – the Tashkent Institute of Irrigation and Agricultural Mechanization Engineers in Almaty and the South Kazakhstan University named after Mukhtar Auezov in Chirchik.

Our country’s leader also expressed gratitude to the President of Kazakhstan, Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, for the initiative to erect a monument to the great son of the Uzbek people, poet, and thinker Alisher Navoi in Astana.

The parties reaffirmed their commitment to deepening integration and cooperation in Central Asia. It was noted that the Consultative Meeting has become an effective mechanism for jointly addressing the challenges facing the region and developing a regional agenda for the long term.

They expressed readiness to maintain close and open dialogue within the United Nations, the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, the Organization of Turkic States, the International Fund for Saving the Aral Sea, and other structures.

At the end of the talks, Shavkat Mirziyoyev invited Kassym-Jomart Tokayev to visit Uzbekistan for the second meeting of the Supreme Interstate Council.